New trade rumors present the 76ers with a prime opportunity to fix recurring problems

The Philadelphia 76ers managed to temporarily halt a steep slide in the standings in their last game, but it will be hard to find anyone who is convinced that this win is the catalyst for a major comeback from here on out.

Aside from Paul George, who is currently sidelined after re-injuring the same knee he sprained a month ago, Joel Embiid has hit another bump in the road. He is already expected to miss at least a few games and at this stage there is no guarantee that he could truly return to his optimal form this season.

In order to cope with the loss of their superstar center, the 76ers have chosen a new way to consolidate the center position for the time being. Nick Nurse and the coaching staff eventually made a major change in the lineup with Guerschon Yabusele taking the reins from Andre Drummond in the opening group, much to the delight of almost everyone who followed the club.

With all due respect to Yabusele, who was one of the most impressive players on the roster in the early going despite the 76ers being an absolute disappointment, there are dangers in the hope of him becoming a full-time center. Not only does it make him more vulnerable to injury, but it also creates the impression that the front office is willing to settle for mere alternatives to solve a long-standing problem.

Luckily, the rumor mill may have the perfect answer to solve this problem for Philly: Jonas Valanciunas, who the Wizards made available in trade talks. The veteran center has seen his role falter as Washington turns to a youth movement, and it only makes sense for them to try to extract assets from the reliable big man.

The big man from Lithuania signed a big, discounted deal – one that the 76ers can certainly complete via trade. Given his consistent play over the years, the front office should definitely make a move for him to give the team a true center who can drastically reduce talent downgrades if Embiid sits and also starts in his place.

Valanciunas, perennially one of the league’s most physically impressive players, would be a great replacement behind Embiid. Imagine him and Yabusele lying on the floor together, conquering weak opposing frontcourts.

At this point, the Philadelphia 76ers need all the weapons they can get to break even in the standings and perform like the contenders they truly are. And moving for Jonas Valanciunas would certainly be the kind of move that could give them the much-needed momentum to finally start picking up wins.