Taking a look at some potential Sixers trade targets that would bolster the bench

The Philadelphia 76ers went 1-3 on their four-game road trip, culminating in Monday’s 134-123 loss to the NBA-leading Utah Jazz that star center Joel Embiid missed due to back tightness.

While the 18-10 Sixers continue to lead the Eastern Conference, dropping three straight to the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Jazz – all winning teams – wasn’t what Doc Rivers and his team had in mind.

Yes, the bench has been subpar of late. And the Sixers would benefit from adding a stretch power forward, aka a ‘stretch 4,’ to help space the floor with the second unit and another wing defender. But it’s too early for president of basketball operations Daryl Morey to overreact with a trade in an effort to augment the roster if it doesn’t clearly make the Sixers better.

Remember, sixth man Shake Milton missed the last three games due to a sprained left ankle. Milton’s absence was readily apparent in the lack of ball movement when the reserves were on the floor.

There is plenty of time until the March 25 trade deadline, which is followed by the opportunity to sign an impending free agent or two after he has his contract bought out.

One available stretch 4 is the Kings’ Nemanja Bjelica, who has fallen out of Luke Walton’s rotation. Bjelica has hit .407 of his 3-pointers over the past 3-plus seasons.

The Sixers, who have been linked to him (along with the Heat), could fit Bjelica’s $7.15 million 2020-21 salary into their $8.2 million trade exception, so the cost might only be a second-round pick. They’d have to waive a player (big man Vincent Poirier?) to create a roster spot for Bjelica in that scenario. Or they could swap Mike Scott and Poirier, along with a pick, to make it work under the salary-cap rules.

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The Sixers have also reportedly expressed interest in Oklahoma City Thunder point guard George Hill, who is making $9.6 million this season with $1.23 million guaranteed in 2021-22. The 34-year-old Hill, who is expected to miss at least two more weeks after undergoing right thumb surgery, led the NBA in 3-point percentage (.460) last season and is an effective floor general. Would the rebuilding Thunder take the expiring contracts of Scott, Poirier and a pick for Hill?

Former Sixers shooting guard JJ Redick wants out of New Orleans, but Redick’s shooting percentage and minutes have dropped off, so he wouldn’t seem to be a preferred option because he is a liability at the defensive end. And his salary is $13 million. Another ex-Sixer, veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova, is a free agent, though it’s unclear how much he is still capable of contributing these days.

A pair of Houston Rockets, guard Ben McLemore and forward P.J. Tucker, could also be on the move. I’m not sure how much of an upgrade McLemore ($2.2 million) would be on the offensive end and he’s not known for his defense. Tucker ($7.97 million) would be worth considering, though Houston apparently wants a first-rounder in return.

As for Philadelphia native/ex-Villanova star Kyle Lowry, he'd provide much-needed toughness in the backcourt, but matching his $30 million 2020-21 salary with the Toronto Raptors would probably be difficult and require a multi-team deal.

While it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Morey and his staff to give Rivers more viable bench options, I’d recommend waiting a few weeks or a month if it means acquiring a higher-impact player.

What would help the Sixers, who return home Wednesday night to face the Rockets (7:30 on ESPN), even more is if Ben Simmons can remain in attack mode like he was against the Jazz. He scored 19 of his career-high 42 points in the first quarter (on 7-for-7 shooting) and kept going.

“I’ve got to keep pushing forward, offensively, and stay dominant,” Simmons said. “… Been working on my mentality a lot these past few weeks. It's not easy to do that – change the way you play. I feel like I’m figuring it out. My scoring’s been a lot the last five, six games.”

Simmons had nine points on 3-for-7 shooting when guarded by Utah all-defensive center Rudy Gobert and was 12 of 19 with 33 points against everybody else. And his 13 free throw attempts showed his level of aggression, with making 12 perhaps the most impressive aspect of a magnificent performance for a guy who came into the game shooting .639 from the line.

Simmons, who will miss the Houston game with flu-like symptoms, won’t regularly get 26 field goal attempts when Embiid plays, but continuing with Monday's mindset would be a tremendous boost for the Sixers in their halfcourt offense.

And that has nothing to do with what Morey does by the trade deadline.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly