Those hoping for James Harden to join the Sixers received some exciting news Thursday morning. Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Harden “wants a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers,” but has resisted making a formal request due to his fear of public backlash.
That fear of public backlash, of course, stems from the fact that Harden requested a trade from Houston just last season. Leaving two franchises in successive seasons is not the best look, but when one considers the circumstances — Houston’s downward spiral and Brooklyn’s Kyrie-addled tailspin — it’s not hard to understand Harden’s motivations. Plus, he has a strong relationship with Sixers ownership and management, which doesn’t hurt if you’re Philadelphia.
Now, the stakes have been laid bare for both sides. Brooklyn can keep Harden and pursue a championship Kawhi-style, but they risk losing him for nothing (or much less) in the offseason. For Philadelphia, how much is an extra half-season of Harden worth — and how confident are you that winning would not convince Harden to reconsider his current desire to leave?
James Harden wants a trade to the Sixers… will it get done?
There is inherent risk on both sides. Brooklyn is dealing the best player in any hypothetical deal, while the Sixers are trading for a 32-year-old with extensive NBA mileage, lingering hamstring problems, and a potentially expiring contract. That said, the tide shifted somewhat in Philadelphia’s favor with this morning’s report — even if the nature of Ben Simmons’ current absence makes it difficult to credit the Sixers with full leverage.
According to Wojnarowski, the Sixers and Nets are expected to have a dialogue in the lead-up to Thursday’s 3 PM trade deadline. Yesterday, it was reported by ESPN’s Brain Windhorst that the two teams are “in the deal zone.” It will probably come down to how much Philadelphia is willing to package on top of Simmons. That, of course, will be determined by Philadelphia’s confidence level in Harden bolting next summer, as well as Morey’s view of the current championship landscape with Harden as opposed to no Harden.
A deal does not feel like a foregone conclusion. Unless the Sixers pay up, there’s a good chance Brooklyn takes this into the summer with hopes that Kevin Durant’s return will right the ship and put Brooklyn back on track. The Nets still have half a season to change Harden’s mind, in theory.
In this writer’s opinion, the Sixers should not get too stingy with the asking price. It’s James Harden. That said, Philadelphia’s abundant confidence in Harden’s eventual arrival does change the calculus somewhat. The Sixers might not be willing to part with multiple key players if Harden has his sights set on Philadelphia next offseason.