Report – Sixers Close to ‘Big’ Hawks Trade

The Philadelphia 76ers were close to making a blockbuster trade prior to last Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

We've heard about the discussions involving the Boston Celtics and Jahlil Okafor, but there was something bigger in the works.

According to a report, the Sixers were offering trade packages to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for point guard Dennis Schröder.

The Keith Pompey report cites multiple league sources saying that the Sixers covet the young point guard are prepared to sign him to a maximum contract deal if they were to acquire him. Schröder will not become a free agent until 2017.

The deal fell apart, reportedly, because the Hawks were worrisome about signing point guard Ish Smith to a contract extension. Smith is a free agent at the end of the season and many expect him to have many suitors on the open market.

The team offered packages that included shooting guard Nik Stauskas, point guard Ish Smith, a player with an expiring guaranteed contract and a 2016 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for point guard Dennis Schroder, according to multiple league sources.

Former Sixer JaKarr Sampson was said to be the expiring contract, per the report.

Schröder, 22, is highly thought of around NBA circles and the Hawks themselves have thought about making him the point guard of the future instead of Jeff Teague.

The first round pick included by the Sixers is said to be one of the protected selections they possess from the Lakers, Heat and Thunder.

The report states that the two teams will revisit discussions this summer in anticipation of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Schröder is averaging 11.2 points, 4.7 assists per game this season.