By Art Beitchman
The 76ers pulled off the draft night trade that most saw coming for weeks.
They sent the 23rd pick in last night’s NBA Draft and Danny Green, who had double knee surgery recently, and his expiring $10 million contract to the Memphis Grizzlies for 24-year-old guard De’Anthony Melton, who Sixers president Daryl Morey drafted when he was still boss of the Rockets.
The Sixers have a win now mentality, meaning they don’t really have the time to break in a rookie, pay this rookie 1st round money just to sit on the bench.
Melton gives the Sixers a bench piece who averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists off the Grizzlies bench. He can also play PG and SG this year on the second unit, hopefully bolstering a bench that came up short in last year’s playoffs.
More moves are certain to come as player movement when free agency starts with the new calendar season underway.
