If the Sixers really wanted to, they could probably talk themselves into Jerami Grant being the two-way playmaker they’ve been trying to get. He has some off-the-dribble creation in his game (though more for himself than setting up others), and he can toggle through various defensive assignments with relative ease.

His offensive value stems mostly from scoring, though, and he isn’t always the most efficient player. He’s also never been a featured scorer on anyone but bottom-feeders, so he probably isn’t the point producer his scoring average says he is (21.6 per game). Versatility drives up his defensive value, but he’s not a lockdown stopper at the point of attack.

He is a good player, but the cost to get him (and keep him) is more what Philly should reserve for a great one. The Blazers don’t want to let him go, so they may need multiple, valuable assets to let him go. Beyond that, any team that acquires him is immediately on the hook for the five-year, $160 million contract he signed last summer.

As flexible as Philadelphia is, a splurge of this magnitude would be the one major move this team can make. The Sixers can’t pay that price knowing there might be better (and more cost-effective) players available to them in the near future.