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‘Whispers’ of a Harden-Sixers trade are back: report initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
That is going to be an enormous week within the NBA commerce rumor mill advanced, and we have got some juice.
With various contracts across the league changing into trade-able on Dec. 15, the contenders can begin trying to find roster enhancements whereas the pretenders mull over fireplace gross sales of worthwhile property. The Sixers, in fact, have the spiciest commerce storyline in all the NBA in Ben Simmons, and a report late final week from ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski steered the staff is likely to be accelerating in the direction of a deal this week.
However now we have now some new intel that might point out the Sixers’ entrance workplace has a number of plans within the works.
In a prolonged data dump, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported at Bleacher Report on Tuesday that entrance workplace executives across the league are listening to some rising buzz round one James Harden’s identify in reference to Simmons:
“If a powerful sufficient deal for Simmons by no means comes Philadelphia’s means this season, there have been ongoing whispers a few free-agency sign-and-trade for Simmons that might enable Harden to hitch forces with Embiid, and rejoin Daryl Morey.
“For now, Brooklyn stands atop the Japanese Convention, and shifting Harden for Simmons makes little sense for Sean Marks’ braintrust, particularly as Kyrie Irving stays inactive.”
Sound acquainted? After all it does. Harden was rumored because the Sixers’ predominant curiosity in a Simmons deal final winter as Morey tried to gear up for a title run. Harden ultimately went from Houston to Brooklyn as an alternative and Simmons stayed put.
The extra stunning concept right here is that the Sixers might significantly wait out the entire season – a season in the midst of Joel Embiid’s prime – earlier than shifting Simmons… though it is rather less so whenever you bear in mind these Morey comments on 97.5 The Fanatic from practically two months in the past:
“Individuals ought to buckle in. That is going to go for a very long time, as a result of my solely job is to assist us have one of the best probability to win the title. Ben Simmons is a distinction maker, so if we are able to get him again, he’ll assist us win the title. If we are able to commerce Ben Simmons for a distinction maker, we’ll do it. I feel that’s finest for everybody on this state of affairs.”
If Morey actually lets Simmons sit and stew on the roster for a whole yr, you will not less than have to provide him credit score for being upfront concerning the state of affairs. He would not appear in any respect afraid to play this factor out.
Now… ought to Morey make this transfer?
Harden will likely be 33 earlier than subsequent season begins. He is at the moment averaging his fewest factors per recreation because the 2011-12 season, his lowest area purpose proportion since his rookie yr, and his lowest three level proportion ever.
Is that this actually the “distinction maker” Morey stated he desires to maneuver Simmons for?
I favored the thought of the Harden commerce final yr. He would’ve clearly given the Sixers a championship-level ceiling, bringing the precise skillset – own-offense creation, elite playmaking, and late-game isolation means – that the staff wanted.
However the way in which Harden is taking part in this yr, particularly beneath the specter of the NBA’s rule adjustments, it looks as if his recreation is not trending in the suitable path – and he will be on the lookout for a big-money contract this coming offseason that would shortly really feel like an albatross on the Sixers’ wage desk.
And that is earlier than you think about giving up further property (draft picks? younger guys?) for Harden in a sign-and-trade.
I would like the Simmons saga to be over, and I would like Embiid to have viable assist so he can hold taking precise championship runs within the postseason whereas he is taking part in at an MVP stage. I simply need there to be different choices on the market for the Sixers. Harden actually is not tipping the scales for me proper now.
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