76ers 'monitoring' situation of four-time All-Star

When they traded James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, the 76ers received four players, all with expiring contracts. They also got rid of P.J. Tucker's salary for 2023-24, leaving the team with a projected $55.7 million in cap space after this season.

The 76ers did pick up Jaden Springer's fourth-year option, giving them just three players under contract for 2024-25, along with Tyrese Maxey, who will be a restricted free agent. While Maxey may be earning himself a maximum contract this season, averaging 30.3 points and 6.3 assists so far, the Sixers can go over the cap to sign him after their other moves.

They also got two extra first-round picks and a first-round pick swap in the deal. That gives Philadelphia extra trade ammunition - which they'd like to turn into a star to pair with Embiid and Maxey.

One of those players is Cleveland Cavaliers' All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. He's been quite good for Cleveland, but he has only two years left on his contract and won't sign an extension this year. In fact, Mitchell can only maximize his earnings by becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025.

That's why Mitchell's trade value is lower than it was when Cleveland gave up Lauri Markkanen, three picks and two pick swaps to get him last summer. Anyone trading for Mitchell could lose him for nothing in less than two years.

But does Philadelphia have enough to get him? The 76ers have seven first-round picks they could include in a deal, but they'd have to make a move this year to use their expiring contracts to match Mitchell's salary. They'd need reassurance that Mitchell wants to play with Embiid, or he could be a very expensive short-term rental. 

After all, Mitchell didn't get along with another All-Star big man, Rudy Gobert. But Mitchell's financial incentive to become a free agent means an otherwise-untouchable player could be had for the right, extremely-high price. Now the 76ers have the means to afford it.