Philadelphia 76ers: It’s James Harden, don’t overthink it

The Philadelphia 76ers should move mountains to land James Harden.

We have published various opinions on the James Harden saga here at The Sixer Sense. My opinion is well documented — the Philadelphia 76ers should happily part with Ben Simmons (and possibly more) if it means Harden wears PHILA across his chest this season. It’s not a particularly hard choice in my book.

Others clearly disagree, and that’s fine. I understand the trepidation. Ben Simmons is 24, has five years on his contract, and is the most versatile defender in basketball. He is also someone the fanbase has invested a lot of energy in, and when that happens, it is tough to think objectively. Sixer fans have fought tooth and nail to defend and campaign for Simmons’ honor. He also represents a pivotal moment in ‘The Process.’ The whole point of Hinkie’s innovative rebuild was to get a player like Simmons.

With that said, you cannot overthink this. Ben Simmons is good, and his future is bright. If the Sixers keep him around, odds are Philadelphia is a playoff team for at least the next five years. A borderline contender, too, for as long as Embiid sticks around. That much is understood. You still trade for Harden. It is a risk — a considerable risk — but one you happily take, without reservation.

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James Harden is arguably the greatest offensive player of his generation. He’s one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, and further up the all-time playmaking ladder than he often gets credit for. Harden has been a virtual guarantee in the MVP conversation going on half a decade. He is the type of star you move heaven and earth to get.

Very rarely do top-five players with multiple years left on their contract become available. Harden has explicitly listed Philadelphia as a place of interest, and his track record of success — both in the regular season and the postseason — is hard to poke holes in. He never won a championship, but he got Houston closer than any other team did at Golden State’s peak.

Harden has never played outside the West. The East — while talented — is not the West. Harden never had a particularly deep supporting cast in Houston either. Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and a decent group of shooters would probably qualify as Harden’s best group of teammates since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC.

Ben Simmons is a top-20 NBA player. He’s a perennial All-NBA and All-Defensive candidate at 24 years old. It is not lost on me how valuable and rare that is. But, frankly, it doesn’t matter. This is not meant to discredit Ben, nor to downplay his talent. James Harden is simply on another level. He is one of those rare basketball creatures who almost single-handedly guarantees championship aspirations. Harden is too good, and too well suited to Philadelphia’s roster, not to pursue.

If these rumors involved anyone else in Harden’s stratosphere, it would be a no-brainer. Would you trade Ben Simmons for LeBron James? Yes. Would you trade Ben Simmons for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Yes. Would you trade Ben Simmons for Luka Doncic? Yes. Would you trade Ben Simmons for Kawhi Leonard? Yes. Would you trade Ben Simmons for Stephen Curry? Yes. Would you trade Ben Simmons for Kevin Durant? Yes.

When we get to Harden, however, half the fanbase balks. Ben Simmons is a lightning rod. He is controversial, interesting, entertaining, and most importantly, a winning basketball player. But Harden is better than some of the names listed above. Age is a concern, money is a concern, longevity is a concern, and none of that is enough to change the central thesis of my argument. The Sixers should take Harden, and by extension, make themselves favorites in the Eastern Conference. You sacrifice the long term to give yourself the best possible chance at Embiid’s (and Harden’s) peak.

The Sixers’ path to contention is frail and volatile. Right now, Philadelphia is barely in the conversation with Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Miami. With no impressive assets and one of the worst contracts in basketball tying up $34 million annually on top of Embiid and Simmons, the room for meaningful improvement is slim. The Sixers could strike gold and get lucky, but right now, the Sixers are on the outskirts of a loaded pool of contenders.

Harden changes that. In getting Harden, the Sixers would also prevent him from going to Brooklyn, Miami, Boston, or Toronto, which would effectively dissolve any chance of Philadelphia winning a title in the next two years. Plus, while money is a concern, odds are Harden would re-sign after next season. There’s a reason he leaked Philadelphia as an agreeable destination. That was a leak from Harden’s camp. Would he really come to Philadelphia and turn down the $50 million per year extension the Rockets tried (and failed) to give him in the twilight of his career.

The Sixers should absolutely, without a moment’s hesitation, offer Ben Simmons for James Harden. I cannot drive this point home enough. James Harden is a game-changer. He is Philadelphia’s ticket to title contention after the front office flubbed the Jimmy Butler trade and set the franchise back almost irrevocably last summer.

This will not be the last article discussing Ben Simmons for James Harden. Until Harden is in another uniform, these debates will rage on. The fanbase will always be divided. Such is life in fandom. But make no mistake — Simmons for Harden is a deal you take.