The 76ers aren't kidding around when it comes to this season and the next handful afterwards. Their goal is to make NBA Finals and win championships. What you've been hearing from them isn't lip service.
Related: Tobias Harris: 5 things to know
Based on social media, it appears the trade to land Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott from the Clippers for Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala and a collection of draft picks, some first rounders, is getting mostly positive reviews. And while I'm in agreement, there is substantial amount of risk to yet another blockbuster trade from Elton Brand.
Why The Trade Will Work
Oh they don't wanna see us. --
A post shared by 94WIP (@sportsradio94wip) on Feb 6, 2019 at 6:33am PST
The Sixers starting five was already pretty good with Wilson Chandler tagging along, but now it's outstanding with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick and Harris, even if Embiid and Simmons are the only actual All-Stars this season. Offensively, each player is capable of going off for 20-plus points, which you couldn't say about Chandler. Opposing defenses will now have a tougher time trying to double, as well as quieting the Sixers offense by focusing on bottling up Simmons.
There's still room to grow and it will take time to gel, as we've learned from Butler, but you should be feeling pretty good about your Sixers starting five at the beginning, middle and end of games. Not to mention, if Brand and company can find a way to get Butler and Harris to re-sign in Philadelphia long term, as well as Redick to extend his stay beyond two years, it'll give the Sixers a formidable "Fab 5" for at least the next few years.
Related: 10 knee-jerk thoughts: Sixers trade for Tobias Harris
The trade will be considered a success if the Sixers can get back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001, and it will absolutely give them their best shot to overcome the Raptors, Bucks, Celtics and Pacers.
Why The Trade Won't Work
Congratulations to Brett Brown, who now possesses one of the toughest jobs on the planet. At least for the next four to five months, Brown needs to figure out a way to build chemistry between talented players who, for the most part, haven't played that much together, especially Harris. As we see on occasion with Butler, that's no easy task.
If for some reason, either Harris or Butler, or both, doesn't re-sign with the Sixers next year, then one of the two mega deals Brand pulled off in his rookie season as general manager are extremely detrimental to the future of the franchise. That applies more so to Harris than Butler. The Sixers gave up valuable assets to get Harris, who's not a superstar. Brown originally valued the 2021 unprotected first round pick from the Heat because he felt it could potentially result in a superstar. If Harris walks after this season, then the Sixers gave away two future first round picks and a reliable young player in Shamet for only a few months of Harris. That will be tough to sell to the fan base, especially those who prefer the long view more so than the short.
Brown also has to learn what he's got in two new bench players Marjanovic and Scott. The Sixers were already thin in the reserve department. They gained a little depth with this trade since at the present time Chandler is injured, but in reality they need to make another move, either through trade or in the buyout market.
While it's a good trade for the Sixers, in some ways it feels the risk is almost equal in weight to the potential. This is the most critical juncture of Brown's coaching tenure in Philadelphia. There's no room for failure. The stakes are too high.
