“When the NBA trading deadline kicked off earlier this month, the Philadelphia 76ers made some significant moves by closing four deals in a single day. Some were anticipated, some caught people by surprise. For several reasons, the Sixers and the Boston Celtics had agreed to a trade under the headline ‘Post-Midseason Transactions.’ One, trading mid-season is rare for division rivals. Two, parting ways with 21-year-old Springer seemed premature for the Sixers.
As the trade finalized, both Philadelphia fans and Springer himself were left amazed. According to the Sixers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations, Ky Carlin, he said to reporters on Tuesday, ‘I didn’t expect this.’ Springer hadn’t anticipated leaving the Sixers midway through his third season; only months later did he find out he was chosen for the next season, even though he hadn’t kept track of the talks completely. The deal is done.
Though he’s leaving Philadelphia abruptly and with little notice, Springer harbors no ill feelings towards his former team. In fact, he had nothing but good things to say about his time in Philadelphia. The guard continued, ‘I had a great time in Philadelphia. It took a lot of hard work. There were a lot of factors that contributed to where I am now. It was great. I’m glad they gave me a chance, and I’ve been content since my time in Philadelphia.’
The Sixers knew they needed time for 19-year-old rookie Tennessee to develop, which is why they picked Springer in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. Playing mostly with the Delaware Blue Coats during his first two seasons with the Sixers.
Having played a career-high 32 games for Philadelphia this season, averaging 12 minutes per game, Springer showed glimpses of a player who could develop into a top-tier defender. Instead of waiting for the second round to make their preferences known, Daryl Morey decided it would be better to part ways with Springer since the trading deadline was approaching. The president of basketball operations for the 76ers clarified his reasoning after the deal was completed.
We had to consider the possibility that Jaden Springer, whom I believe has a bright future, could help our rotation in the next one, two, or three years. And what are the chances of benefiting from the second round pick? In our opinion, we benefit more from the second round. This is a simple truth. Morey said, ‘It allows us to potentially acquire an experienced individual up until next year’s deadline, among other things.'”
