According to Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers are preparing to shop F/C Marreese Speights:
The 76ers can't move Speights until
@yungsmoove21 & Hawes situations are resolved. Once there's closure there, almost certain Speights gone.
The goal of the Sixers is to re-sign Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes, then to try to move Marreese Speights for some value. Speights has struggled in Philadelphia, never really cracking the starting lineup behind a relatively busy front line. To make matters worse for Speights, Philly added F/C Nikola Vučević in the 2011 draft, a player who is likely to leapfrog Speights in the rotation.
The 24-year-old Speights still has value, however. He's 6'10", a skilled rebounder and a versatile scorer. That versatility is also the clear knock on Speights, as his solid inside scoring is watered down by ~44% shooting outside of the paint. His career 49% shooting from the field is low for a big man, but not a complete loss since Speights takes good care of the ball and is well above average from the charity stripe.
But why would the Pistons be most interested in Speights? His defense. His shot blocking isn't impressive, but his post defense, isolation defense and help defense is superb. Synergy Sports ranked Speights the 16th best defender in the league in 2010-11, regardless of position. His defensive skill is a perfect match for Greg Monroe, who is weak where Speights is solid and strong where Speights is not-- specifically pick-and-rolls, shots off screens, etc.
Speights is due $2.7M in 2011-12 with a $4M qualifying offer due next season. There will likely be a good bit of trade competition for a near 7-footer with this kind of skill level. Who knows, there might not be. The Pistons should be calling up the Sixers early and often with offers for Speights. The question is what they'd want in return. If Young doesn't return and/or the team attempts to trade Iguodala, they'll be in need of help on the wing.
If I'm making an offer, I'd capitalize on Kyle Singler's recent performance in Spain's ACB league and the low cost of Will Bynum. A package of Singler and Bynum might pull Speights and a filler player like Craig Brackins. Who knows, Detroit might even get a second rounder for that kind of deal...