As the DEADLINE for the NBA trade approached and the whereabouts of Ben Simmons continued, fear grew in Philadelphia. It seemed that the president of the 76ers, Daryl Morey, overplayed his hand and overvalued the dissatisfied star.
However, what Morey actually did showed that he understood the fickle nature of superstar relationships in the NBA. He waited patiently for the kind of entertaining and club-specific mayhem that might displace a star elsewhere.
In the end, James Harden-the player who shaped Morey’s career after the former Rockets manager acquired him a decade ago, and the star Morey knows best-was exactly the chaos agent Philly expected.
The exchange of Simmons, the sweet crack of Seth Curry and several first-round picks (plus backup center Andre Drummond) for Harden, of course, carries risks. The 32-year-old has avoided his dismissal from the city for two years in a row – he has almost left two different teams in 13 months-and does not look like the player he was a year or two ago, let alone the player who was named MVP four years ago.
But even in his diminished state, moving heaven and earth would always have been worth it if it meant the Sixers could make the pair with Joel Embiid.
Although the ground in Harden this season looked significantly lower than in previous years and was as inefficient and role-dependent as never before, it still has state-of-the-art equipment that few players can match. He has an average of 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and eight rebounds on 57.6% striking success. The year “down” by Harden is still the kind of season that only he and Oscar Robertson were capable of.
There was also growing evidence that Harden was getting fit again, ahead of a tension on the thigh muscles, commercial rumours and apparent disinterest about two weeks ago. Over a period of 15 games from Christmas to January. The 25-year-old Harden averaged 26.4 points on 59% of actual cracks, scoring six games with more than 30 points and double-digit assists.
Harden is not able to create rude advantages as easily as before, but his ability to continue to act as a one-man strike is always more valuable than Simmons at this end of the field, and it’s still about the opponent’s defense more than the impressive crack and movement from the curry ball.
The fact remains: the BEARD is still one of the best game guides in the game. He and Embiid will combine for their fair share of setbacks, which will drive head coach Doc Rivers crazy at times, but the Sixers have rarely used an rude initiator sound sufficient to even launch a reliable pass after Embiid’s performance. Now they are engaged in an rude legend, the passage of which alone can dismantle the defense.
With all the respect I owe Simmons and Jimmy Butler, Embiid never had the richness of playing with such a changing teammate as Harden is always able to be at his best parties.
There are also much fewer risks associated with this trade now that Harden has already opted for its option. The Sixers don’t have to worry about seeing a hectic walk from Harden for free this summer after sacrificing so much to acquire him, but they also don’t have to rush to overpay for his twilight with some sort of mega-expansion this year. The signing of Harden now gives the Sixers a legitimate chance to play a championship in the next two seasons.
The rest of Embiid’s support cast also seems to be more formidable, as Harden puts players in more suitable positions to succeed.
Tyrese Maxey, who is experiencing an excellent campaign in the second year, can continue to develop as a scorer, playmaker and slasher, without the unfair pressure to be the second option for a candidate this spring. Tobias Harris, and the unique striking creation that he owns in his size, looks much better as a third or fourth option than as an imaginary star, which Philly relies on in big moments. The rude development of Matisse Thybulle – one of the most promising defensive players in the league – is no longer to be feared.
Of course, the unique justification of this trade, and the reason why the potential reward mitigates any risk Harden Philly brings in his literal and theoretical baggage, is Embiid’s presence.
The finalist of the MVP is playing at a scandalous level this season. Harden committing to continue helping Embiid next season is a bonus, but Morey landing a player who can help the great man of the present was a necessity. As I wrote a few weeks ago, when I asked morey’s Sixers to reach an agreement with Simmons before the deadline, Philly could never have such an embiid season again; not because the star center game could pieces, but because few great men in history have been able to play at Embiid’s current level.
The rarefied air Embiid got into this season explains why the Sixers needed to maximize the window of time available to them.
What some in Brooklyn and Houston might describe as the worst of James Harden helped open that window for
