The Sixers need help. Here are trade-deadline moves they could make. | Off the Dribble

Good morning, Sixers fans. Another day, and more angst about the bench. The Sixers reserves were outscored, 35-16, Sunday in a 110-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors in Tampa, Fla.

The Sixers definitely need to upgrade their bench depth, and it would be a shock if president of basketball operations Daryl Morey doesn’t bring in at least one addition by the March 25 trade deadline.

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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)

There are several players who would fit the Sixers’ needs, but we are just going to list realistic acquisitions. For instance, we are not putting Bradley Beal or Kyle Lowry in this list. We would also be shocked if Chicago dealt Zach LaVine, although crazier things have occurred.

Others such as DeMarcus Cousins, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond don’t seem like good fits. So here is a list of just a few players who are not stars, but who could help the Sixers, listed alphabetically. All salary information is from Hoopshype.com.

Nemanja Bjelica, 6-10 PF, Sacramento. He was almost a Sixer once. In 2018, Bjelica had an oral agreement with the Sixers, but he backed out of it. He told the team he was going to return to Europe, but ended up signing with Sacramento. He has not played much lately unless somebody is hurt but did have 25 points and eight rebounds in Thursday’s 118-110 home loss to Miami. Bjelica, 32, is a career 38.8% three-point shooter, although he is shooting only 26.3% this year. He is on the last year of a contract that pays $7.15 million.

Wayne Ellington, 6-4 SG, Detroit. The former Episcopal Academy grad is averaging 10.3 points and shooting 42.1% from three. He is earning $2.5 million and will be a free agent next year. Ellington, 33, had a big game with 20 points (6 of 9 from three) in Detroit’s 119-104 home win over the Sixers on Jan. 25.

Langston Galloway, 6-1, SG/PG, Phoenix. The former St. Joseph’s star signed a one-year deal for $2 million with the Suns but hasn’t been playing much. He is averaging 10.6 minutes and hasn’t played in five games. Even in his limited time, Galloway, 29, is shooting a career-best 47.6% from three.

George Hill, 6-4, PG, Oklahoma City. Hill, who will turn 35 on May 4, is sidelined after undergoing surgery on his right thumb earlier this month. The Thunder said he would miss at least four weeks. He is averaging 11.8 points and shooting 38.6% from three. Most appealing is his playoff experience, 127 games. He is earning $9.5 million this season and will earn $10 million in the final year of his contract.

JJ Redick, 6-3 SG, New Orleans. After two highly productive seasons with the Sixers, he signed with the Pelicans as a free agent. Redick, 36, is earning $13 million on an expiring contract. Redick had a good first season in New Orleans, but this year, he is playing less and averaging 8.0 points and shooting 35.8% from three-point range (40.7% in two years with the Sixers). He will likely be dealt to a contender.

P.J. Tucker, 6-5 SF, Houston. Tucker, 35, would be acquired for defensive purposes. He averages only 4.7 points, but is a quality defender. Morey knows him well from their days in Houston. He is in the final season of a contract that pays him nearly $8 million. Tucker will likely generate a lot of interest from contenders.

When Embiid had 50 points and 17 rebounds in Friday’s win over Chicago, it was the 14th time in franchise history that a player had scored at least 50 points and grabbed at least 15 rebounds in a game.

Wilt Chamberlain did it 11 times. Some of his numbers were simply insane.

Here is the list,

courtesy of basketball-reference.com Stathead.

Joel Embiid 50 pts. 17 R, Feb. 19, 2021 vs Chicago

Moses Malone 51 pts., 17 R, Nov. 14, 1984 vs. Detroit

Wilt Chamberlain 53 pts., 32 R, Mar. 18, 1968 vs. LA Lakers

Wilt Chamberlain 53 pts., 38 R, Dec. 20, 1967 at Seattle

Wilt Chamberlain 68 pts., 34 R, Dec. 16, 1967 at Chicago

Wilt Chamberlain 52 pts., 37 R, Dec. 1, 1967 vs. Seattle

Wilt Chamberlain 58 pts., 25 R, Feb. 13, 1967 vs. Cincinnati

Wilt Chamberlain 62 pts., 37 R, Mar. 3, 1966 vs. San Francisco

Wilt Chamberlain 65 pts., 29 R, Feb. 7, 1966 vs. LA Lakers

Wilt Chamberlain 53 pts., 31 R, Jan. 21, 1966 vs. LA Lakers

Wilt Chamberlain 50 pts., 23 R, Jan. 2, 1966 vs. New York

Wilt Chamberlain 53 pts., 21 R, Oct. 23, 1965 vs. Detroit

Wilt Chamberlain 51 pts., 20 R, Mar. 14, 1965 at Baltimore

Dolph Schayes 50 pts., 23 R, Feb. 1, 1959 at Boston

Tuesday: Sixers vs. Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m., Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla., NBC Sports Philadelphia

Thursday: Dallas Mavericks at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, TNT

Saturday: Cleveland Cavaliers at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

March 1: Indiana Pacers at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

March 3: Utah Jazz at Sixers, 7 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Question: Is Ben Simmons an All-Star this season? I would appreciate feedback from your NBA contacts whether yea or nay. — Angel Brito from Facebook

Answer: Thanks for the question, Angel. The NBA coaches will vote for the reserves and Doc Rivers didn’t call me for my opinion, but I think Simmons is an All-Star. I am not sure he will be selected, but his two-way game, especially his defense, is what the coaches in the league always talk about when asked about Simmons.

That he has made a late offensive surge won’t hurt. In his last four games, Simmons is averaging 27.8 points and shooting 69% from the field and 79.5% from the foul line. Btw, the All-Star reserves will be announced Tuesday.