5 James Harden trades that keep 76ers in title contention
By Tyler Watts
3. Suns go all-in in wild 3-teamer
The Suns are trying to trade Deandre Ayton, and they got close to moving him to Dallas on draft night. Could the two sides resurrect that deal with James Harden being the piece that heads to Phoenix and the role players to Philadelphia?
This would be the 76ers selling extremely low on James Harden, but it would give them three rotation pieces to put around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The Suns do not have any draft capital to trade and Dallas is not interested in giving the 76ers any in a deal they could make themselves with Phoenix.
Harden leaving in free agency is no longer an option, so the Sixers have to decide how to maximize the return. Are three role players enough to keep them in title contention? Bullock could be the 3-and-D wing Philadelphia needs and Tim Hardaway Jr. would be a key shot-maker around Embiid and Maxey. The return may not look like much, but the 76ers would remain dangerous.
The Suns would be the crazy team here. Acquiring James Harden would blow them past the second tax apron and give them four superstars. Their new owner Mat Ishbia is not afraid to make a splash, but this one could backfire massively.