The trade that everybody was talking about has been completed. And it went down to the very end of the trade deadline. It just had to be dramatic to the very end, huh? Philadelphia and Daryl Morey got their man in James Harden. Harden and Daryl Morey have had a solid relationship from the duos time together in Houston with the Rockets. So, it really was no surprise that once there was talk of potential interest from the 76ers to bring The Beard over to the City of Brotherly Love, and pair up him and Joel Embiid, that it was a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
Let’s look at the specifics of the deal. Philadelphia receives James Harden. The Brooklyn Nets receive Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond.
The Sixers get that much needed bonafide superstar partner to their very own Joel Embiid. James Harden is having a poor season by his standards. Due to not being happy in Brooklyn, due to the Kyrie-vaccination situation, and the hamstring injuries- BUT the man’s still averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, and 8 boards. And is an All-Star for the 10th time… all this in a poor season… He is a true superstar of the league, and this move will prove it. A move that surely puts Phily right up there as a genuine contender to come out of the East, and one that will have the team confident against any of the other teams vying for top spot. They already had arguably the best big man in the league in Embiid, and now have the shooting and passing of James Harden to provide a new level of creativity and offense beyond the arc. They always have the defense of Matisse Thybulle- a player that Brooklyn GM Sean Marks also tried to acquire as part of the deal. The Harden-Embiid duo also has the potential to be one of the games greatest pick and roll duos. Embiid hasn’t really used the pick and roll as a go to weapon for his offense. But that isn’t for a lack of ability. Now that one of the greatest scorers this game has ever seen is on the team, I am certain that the pick and roll will be run a lot more often by coach Rivers. There is just too much fire power to not utilize it. The fans in Philadelphia are in for some special basketball for the second half of the season.
On the Nets’ side of things, GM Sean Marks has done a fantastic job in my opinion. Just like the Sixers, they offload a player who does not want to be there, AND he brings in some valuable pieces that will make an immediate impact on this Brooklyn team. Ben Simmons is an all-world defender. He can guard 1 through 5 and is the ideal passing big/center come playoff time. He can focus on defending (a good thing for someone who finished second in the Defensive Player Of the Year standings last season eh?) and on getting his teammates involved on offense. He can be the Nets’ version of Draymond Green. Not too bad. Top level defending and playmaking INSTANTLY improves the Nets in a way that they desperately needed. And with Joe Harris out, adding Seth Curry (who has been fantastic shooting from beyond the arc and with his mid ranges too) is a brilliant move. It also leaves Philly a little thin in that department and making a title rival in the same division get a little weaker is always welcome. Drummond might not stand out, but he is a more than serviceable big man. And come playoff time, the more bodies you have to throw at the bigs in the East- Embiid, Giannis, Vucevic, Allen, Mobley, Bam- the better. He brings a good veteran presence to the locker room. And you need that know how of a player who’s been in the league, especially when you run with a young but talented (and sometimes volatile) group of players. And just like Harden with Philly, Simmons, Seth Curry, and Drummond are here to make an instant impact and make the Brooklyn Nets stronger right now.
The East needed a proper rivalry. The last true rivalry goes back to the 90s battles between MJ’s Chicago Bulls and Ewing’s New York Knicks. But with this trade? The nature of the moves, the drama that led to this, the players involved, the cities involved (the atmosphere in the Wells Fargo Arena in Philly will be something else when these two face off)? We’re in for some fireworks. In a season where the East is already packed, you have the Miami Heat (the most complete team in the East in my opinion), the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks, the electrifying Chicago Bulls with their resurgence, the surprise Cavs from Cleveland… THIS, this rivalry and spice is what we needed to take this thing to the next level! Bring on All-Star break, and the home stretch before the playoff basketball begins. This summer might get a whole lot hotter than we previously thought.