Sixers Acquire Draft Pick at Trade Deadline

The Philadelphia 76ers made a minor transaction before today’s NBA trade deadline, receiving Joel Anthony and Denver’s 2017 second round draft pick, by way of the Houston Rockets, a source with knowledge of the situation has told Philadelphia magazine.

The move was part of a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. The Rockets sent Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Pistons for a protected first round draft pick from Detroit.

In order to complete the transaction, the Sixers will send the rights to overseas prospect Chukwudiebere Maduabum to the Rockets. The Sixers acquired Maduabum’s rights from the Denver Nuggets at last year’s trade deadline.

Anthony is owed $2.5 million this year, with a $2.5 million non-guaranteed contract for next year. The Sixers are likely to immediately waive the 33 year old Anthony.

Even though Anthony is likely to be waived, the Sixers will need to open a roster spot before the trade can be finalized. There is no word yet on what the corresponding roster move will be.

For the Sixers, they essentially spent $2.5 million in cap space to purchase a 2017 second round pick. The Nuggets currently have the eighth worst record in the league.

Maduabum, who was included in the trade because of a technicality where each team has to give up a consideration in a deal, is unlikely to ever make the transition to the NBA.

The Sixers entered the day with $60,369,349 in salary committed so far this season, per BasketballInsiders. With Anthony’s $2.5 million in salary the Sixers are now within roughly $130,000 of the $63 million salary cap floor.

Derek Bodner covers the 76ers for Philadelphia magazine. Follow @DerekBodnerNBA on Twitter.