Despite not having a permanent general manager in place, Philadelphia’s 2018 draft did not lack for drama. The post-selection trade of Mikal Bridges to Phoenix for Zhaire Smith and Miami’s 2021 1st-round pick came out of nowhere, rare in a league environment where seemingly every trade rumor has typically been floated out in the twittersphere already.
In the subsequent press conference, Brett Brown alluded to how the deal fit into the team’s overall long-term plans, saying the Sixers “are star hunting” and “that pick might be the thing that links a possible trade”. With those bread crumbs in mind, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes (or even Richaun Holmes) to figure out Philadelphia is going to make a serious push to acquire disgruntled Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.