With the 2016 NBA Draft just a couple of weeks away, the Philadelphia 76ers, which currently hold the No. 1 spot, made an interesting announcement regarding which player they would like to acquire. But, for some sources, this could be a ploy by the team to draw out a trade with other NBA franchise.
Over the past couple of weeks, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram have been noted as this year's top prospects. Of course, since the 76ers are clinching the top spot, it would not come as a surprise if they draft either Simmons or Ingram.
However, in a recent interview, Marc Eversley, the vice president of Philadelphia's player personnel, hinted that the team may be scouting a different athlete for the upcoming draft.
"Jamal Murray, we certainly got a chance to see him a couple of weeks ago," he told Philly.com. "He's certainly going to be one of those kids who's going to be in contention for the No. 1 pick."
"We like him a lot," he added. "He's going to bring a lot to wherever he goes in the NBA, certainly a talent."
Murray, of course, is a very talented athlete and certainly deserves to get drafted during the first round. But, for a team holding the number one spot, it probably wouldn't be a wise move to settle for someone when it has the greatest chance of getting the best prospect.
This is primarily why various sources are not buying what Eversley just said. For them, this is just a strategy to draw out the other teams who are looking to get Ingram or Simmons. In other words, by publicly suggesting that they're not interested in any of these players, they have opened the doors for other franchises to trade with them for the number one spot.
At this point, anyone can make an offer to the 76ers such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns or Minnesota Timberwolves. However, in exchange for Philadelphia's No. 1 spot, it can be expected that the 76ers will require a very tempting offer before proceeding with a trade.
