All the buzz in Philadelphia now is the Phils acquiring reigning Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. It’s a huge deal, a huge deal that got me thinking.
What are some of the best 76er trades of all-time?
I did some old fashion research and came up with my own Top 5 list. I think you’ll be surprised at some of the names below and how the Sixers acquired them.
And please feel free to send in your honorable mentions!
Enjoy!
# 5 -- “The Boston Strangler”
On November 2nd 1976 the Sixers traded away Mel Bennett to the Indiana Pacers for the Pacers 1st round pick in 1980. I know it’s bizarre, trading away to get a first round pick nearly 4 years later, but it worked out for the 76ers. With that pick they selected Andrew Toney, or as Bostonians know him “The Boston Strangler.” Toney not only destroyed the Celtics but routinely put up huge games against the rest of the NBA’s elite. Of course he’s also well known for being apart of the 76ers 1982-83 Championship team.
# 4- ”Dr. J”
Julius “Dr. J” Erving solidified himself as one of the best in the game early on while with the New York Nets of the ABA. The ABA merged with the NBA and one of the teams to move over was the Dr. J led Nets. Erving was promised a bonus by then Nets owner Roy Boe. However, the New York Knicks demanded that the Nets pay them over $4 Million Dollars for moving into their league and market. Therefore Boe was unable to pay Erving his bonus and was forced to sell his contract to the 76ers for $3 Million Dollars. The rest my friends is history.
# 3- ”Sir Charles”
Yet another trade pulled off by the Sixers that benefited them in the long run, the real long run. In 1978 the Sixers traded Lloyd (World B.) Free to the then San Diego Clippers for their 1st overall pick in the 1984 draft. With that pick the Sixers drafted Charles Barkley. The trade a the time was risky considering Free routinely finished in the top 5 in the league in scoring. In the end though it’s just another bad luck move by the bad luck Clippers.
# 2- The “Final Piece”
The Sixers already had their eye on Moses Malone signing him to an offer-sheet when he became a free agent with the Houston Rockets. However, Houston exercised it’s right to first refusal and match the 76ers offer for Malone only to trade him before the season started. The Sixers gave the Rockets Caldwell Jones and their 1st pick in the 1983 draft. That pick didn’t end up being to high as Malone helped guide the Sixers to the NBA Finals and to a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
# 1- The “Big Dipper” Cometh
On January 15th 1965 the Sixers traded Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann, Lee Shaffer and Cash to the Warriors for some guy named Wilt Chamberlain. After spending his first 6 seasons with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors they ran into financial trouble and were forced to trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers. Surprisingly enough fans of the Warriors were not upset by the trade as he was not well liked in San Francisco mainly because the team was not successful in his last seasons there.
-Mike Santa Barbara
*** Follow me on Twitter @Mike__SB ***
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