4. Challenge trade with Chicago
Can the 76ers trade James Harden for another All-Star? It would be surprising, but the Chicago Bulls just re-signed Nikola Vucevic. They are also rumored to be shopping Zach LaVine and are looking for a point guard upgrade this offseason. Could the Bulls pull off a shocking deal for Harden?
Consider this extremely unlikely, but nobody expected Chicago to acquire DeMar DeRozan, either. The Bulls are not afraid to make moves and bold ones at that. This could be just the type of challenge trade that interests both sides.
Philadelphia is committed to staying in contention. They have the reigning MVP in Joel Embiid and a roster built to win. Trading Harden for LaVine may not be ideal, but it keeps a second All-Star next to Embiid and gives them plenty of firepower. Teams would struggle to stop Embiid, LaVine, and Maxey, but it would be on new head coach Nick Nurse to maximize the three.
The Bulls get more of a playmaker and facilitator around DeRozan and Vucevic as they try to get into the title picture. It is a wild idea that is certainly unlikely, but the Bulls are the only ones that just might consider it.