How Sixers' cost-cutting moves actually help the Thunder

Leading up to the trade deadline, the Sixers traded veterans Kenyon Martin, Jr., Reggie Jackson and Caleb Martin, primarily to get below the luxury tax line. It helps ownership save money, and also gives them flexibility, in avoiding being subject to "repeater" penalties for teams that regularly go over the tax line. It doesn't help the Sixers in their postseason ambitions.

That's important for the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, who own Philadelphia's first-round pick this season thanks to a 2020 trade where the Thunder sent Danny Green to the Sixers for a second-round pick, the unwanted contract of Al Horford and a 2025 first-round pick, protected for picks 1-6.

Right now, the 20-31 76ers have the seventh-worst record, which would send the Thunder a premium pick in a draft that's supposed to be loaded with talent, including Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. OKC also owns Miami's lottery-protected first-round pick and a pick swap with the Los Angeles Clippers, meaning the team with the NBA's best record (41-9) could end up with three of the first 20 picks in June.

The 76ers do have a 32 percent chance of getting a top-four pick, at which point they'd get to keep their selection. They're also only 1.5 games out of 10th place and the final play-in tournament spot. With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, they could certainly win their way into the playoffs.

But with the Sixers aiming for cost-savings and not playoff help, the Thunder's chances at a top prospect just got a lot better this week. Or, they could leverage the high pick for Thunder GM Sam Presti's favorite thing: More future first-round picks.