NBA Rumors: Sixers Interested in Kawhi Leonard

The Philadelphia 76ers barely made any moves during last month's trade deadline, although it seems that it wasn't for lack of trying. As reported by Kevin O'Connor from Yahoo Sports, the team president, Daryl Morey, explored different options to acquire a big star before the February 5 deadline.

According to the same report, some sources indicate that Morey was "star-hunting" in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline. Among the players linked to the Philadelphia franchise was the name of Los Angeles Clippers Kawhi Leonard.

However, the move did not materialize, and Leonard remained in Los Angeles beyond the deadline. Meanwhile, the Sixers witnessed the Clippers trading their star point guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers, further complicating the path to title contention in the Eastern Conference.

The only move: Jared McCain's departure

Far from adding a top-tier player, Philadelphia ended up making only one move. The team sent second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-round picks. McCain had averaged 6.6 points in 37 games with the Sixers this season. After joining Oklahoma City, he increased his offensive production to 12.5 points per game in 11 appearances with the Thunder.

Kevin O'Connor summed up the team's star search with: "Nothing happened." He explained how Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and the rest of the team saw McCain being traded, the club dodging the luxury tax, and no reinforcements arriving to help the roster. With a record of 33 wins and 28 losses, the Sixers currently occupy the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference as the playoff race heats up.

The team missed the postseason last year and is clearly motivated to rectify that situation, although it appears challenging to keep up with other Eastern contenders after failing to add more star talent to their squad. Philadelphia recently ended a two-game losing streak by defeating the Utah Jazz (106-102) on Wednesday night.