The Philadelphia 76ers were at the center of the trade rumors since day one. Four days before the deadline, they have not made their trade. The price is still the same, draft picks and expiring contracts. Pau Gasol is one of the biggest contracts, but where are the picks?

It has been explored before, but the deadlock centers on the picks. From Philly.com:

"The franchise wants to gain future compensation in exchange for Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. With the most cap space in the league and an open roster spot, the Sixers will consider acquiring an expiring contract from a team looking to dump a salary. But that most likely will also involve receiving a draft pick."

Pau Gasol is an expiring contract, and the Sixers would trade Thaddeus Young and even Turner for him, but they would ask for a pick. The Lakers have only one: their own lottery bound first rounder. They would never give that up. While they would have three young players to form a core, it's a core that did not work in Philly, so why would they do better in LA?

Turner and Hawes are expiring contracts themselves, so it's really just Thaddeus Young. They would just let Hawes and Turner expire. Why are they trading Young, who is averaging 17 points and 6.5 rebounds (Basketball Reference.com) at age 25?

They really want a draft pick. They have even explored a trade for Andrew Bynum(!) just to get the Cavs' pick! From Chad Ford's weekly chat (Sports Nation, ESPN):

"I heard the Cavs flirted with trying to acquire him in the Bynum deal, but the Sixers wanted the Cavs first rounder this year to do it. The Cavs balked."

Will they get their coveted draft pick? They aren't talking to Phoenix, because all the Suns have are post lottery picks (since the picks are protected and the Suns are making the playoffs). But if the deadline closes, they may accept a 16-20^th overall. The questions is, will that player be better than Thaddeus Young?