The Sixers made the trade everyone wanted, and the trade they needed, on Thursday when they acquired James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets.
Here are my thoughts on the trade — and why it makes the Sixers legitimate title contenders:
The trade is a steal: Let's start at the top — this trade is a steal for the Sixers. Not only did the Sixers get the best player in the trade (by far), but they gave up almost nothing of value.
Ben Simmons wasn't playing for the team and was never going to. Andre Drummond is a replaceable backup. Seth Curry is a solid, but not difference making, player. The two draft picks will be late and are easily reacquired.
This trade does't significantly impact the current roster, which was near the top of the Eastern Conference, while adding a top 15 player in the NBA. It allows the team to improve significantly now without impacting their future since they didn't have to trade Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle. It would have been understandable if Morey overpaid for Harden. Instead, to his credit, he played it perfectly and got Harden at a discount.
Harden is exactly what the Sixers needed: The Sixers biggest issue the last few seasons, and especially in the playoffs, has been their lack of a perimeter scorer. As good as Joel Embiid is, it is hard to run an offense through a center in the playoffs, especially late in games. The Sixers needed someone they could give the ball to on the perimeter and trust to make something happened. They didn't have anything close to that.
They just solved that problem in a major way.
Harden is an elite scorer and knows how to attack the basket perhaps better than any other guard in the NBA, averaging 8.0 free throws per game this season (Added bonus — he makes them). He is not only a capable three-point shooter, but he is a very willing one, averaging 7.0 attempts this season. While his shooting percentage is a bit down (33%), he is a career 36% shooter, and should get more space than ever with Joel Embiid in the post.
You have to have an elite guard to win in the NBA. The Sixers now have that.
Joel Embiid: Joel Embiid should have been MVP of the NBA last season and could very well win it this season. He is an amazing player. But the reality is, late in playoff games, he looked worn down. That isn't his fault — it is the life of a 7-foot, 280 pound man who has been playing for months and expected to be the best player on both sides of the court. Embiid needed help. Ben Simmons was never able to give it to him. Harden will
Harden will make Embiid's life easier, and as a result, he won't be as worn down as he as been in past postseasons. Harden has had some past playoff struggles, but he has averaged at least 24.0 points in 16 straight playoff series before being injured vs. Milwaukee last year. He averaged at least 27 points in the eight series prior to that injury as well. Embiid finally has the help he has needed for years, and both should make each other better.
Maxey, Harris: Two of the biggest winners in this trade are Maxey and Tobias Harris. Maxey not only is staying in Philadelphia and gets to learn from Harden, but he is now gets to be the change-of-pace scorer to compliment Harden as opposed to carrying the weight of being their top option on the outside. The same goes for Harris. He goes from having to be the No. 2 scorer on offense to being behind both Embiid and Harden on the offensive side of the ball. The pressure on both was going to be very high in the playoffs. Now, they can be what they are better suited to be — role players.
Going for it now: The most respectable part of this trade from Morey and the Sixers is it shows they know the urgency to try to win now. The Eastern Conference is wide open. The Western Conference is as well. There is no clear favorite. No LeBron or Golden State standing in the way like there has been the past. Now, by acquiring Harden now instead of waiting until this offseason, the Sixers get another run in the playoffs with their new top duo. The chance for a title is there right now. Worry about the contract extension and Harden's age later. The Sixers, after years of having the longest view in the room, are finally going for it.
Ben Simmons on the Nets: There has been a lot of talk about how Simmons is going to a perfect situation in Brooklyn. Is he though? The Nets just traded away one of their top scorers. They will be without their other top scorer, Kyrie Irving, for home games. There are going to be playoff games where Simmons is the No. 2 option on offense with Kevin Durant, just like he was in Philadelphia with Joel Embiid. We all remember how that turned out. Even with Kyrie Irving does play, the idea Simmons will come back the same player might be a reach. He hasn't played in close to a year. He will have more pressure and eyeballs on him than ever before. It wasn't just Philadelphia who saw him melt down against Atlanta — it was the entire league. The Nets will be a playoff team. Simmons has played his worst basketball in the postseason. On paper his game might be suited for the Nets, but in reality, it is hard to see him playing better on a bigger stage with more pressure.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com
