2. Revenge for Bridges and Curry
Sixers fans remember the 2018 NBA draft well. The 76ers, under interim general manager Brett Brown, selected Villanova star Mikal Bridges, and then 45 minutes later dealt him to the Phoenix Suns for the rights to Zhaire Smith and a future draft pick (which used later on in the Tobias Harris trade).
A great story about a hometown hero (whose mother worked for the Sixers) was destroyed due to the gross incompetence of the front office. Bridges has gone on to become a standout player while Smith, well, is not even in the league.
As part of the Simmons-Harden trade, current GM Daryl Morey had to include starting shooting guard Seth Curry in the deal. Curry continues to knock down 3’s at a high rate for Brooklyn. This was not a horrendous move like the Bridges deal, but Curry certainly would fit in well with the current 76ers team.
In Brooklyn, Bridges in the top gun, averaging 26.1 points a game, while Curry is hitting threes at a 40.5% clip. Curry scored 32 points on January 5 against the Sixers.
You can be assured Bridges and Curry will be fired up to play the 76ers, and show they made a mistake in getting rid of them. Both will be a problem for the 76ers in this series.