5 James Harden-76ers trades to teams nobody is expecting: Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have been unable to figure things out over the past few seasons. Are they desperate enough to take a big swing on one year of James Harden?
76ers receive: Terry Rozier, Cody Martin, Nick Richards, 2027 First-Round Pick (Top-10 Protected), 2026 Second-Round Pick, 2028 Second-Round Pick
Hornets receive: James Harden
Charlotte would be able to roll out a starting lineup of Harden, LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington (if he re-signs ), and Mark Williams heading into next season.
Obviously, Harden will be able to leave Charlotte next summer, as he will be an unrestricted free agent, but would this Hornets team be good enough to snap the team’s playoff drought? Could they compete in a first-round playoff series?
If the Hornets accomplished either of those things, this deal may be worth considering, especially considering the experience Ball and Bridges would get.
For the 76ers, Daryl Morey almost certainly wants to get a better return than this, but Terry Rozier is a solid player, He and Tyrese Maxey could hold things down in the backcourt.
Cody Martin and Nick Richards may not be well-known names, but both are decent bench pieces. Martin is a great defender and a solid shooter, while Richards would be a decent backup center option.
Add in the first-round pick and two seconds, it would be an okay return, but again, nowhere close to what the 76ers probably want for Harden.