Grading the 5 worst James Harden trades on the internet
By Jack Simone
Grading the 5 worst James Harden trades on the internet: New Orleans Pelicans
Unlike the other deals, this would actually be a decent return for the Philadelphia 76ers, but it’s a very risky trade, so it lands on this list.
76ers receive: Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Larry Nance Jr., Garrett Temple***
Pelicans receive: James Harden, PJ Tucker, Mac McClung***, Two second-round picks
Andrew Lopez of ESPN came up with this trade idea earlier this summer, and although Garrett Temple and Mac McClung are no longer part of their respective teams and cannot be traded, the general framework of this deal is still questionable.
At first glance, getting Zion Williamson back in a deal for one year with James Harden is great value for Philadelphia. But it would also come with a major risk.
Through four years of NBA action, Williamson has appeared in just 114 games – including missing the entirety of his junior season in the league. That’s risky.
The 76ers already have one injury-prone superstar in Joel Embiid, though he has played over 60 games in each of the past two years. However, the risks are still there.
A frontcourt of Williamson and Embiid would seriously lack floor spacing, and for Williamson to be at his best, he needs an open lane. That won’t happen with Embiid.
Trey Murphy III would sneakily be an elite player to add next to Embiid, but overall, the 76ers should aim for clear books moving forward or a risk-free star that fits better next to Embiid. There are just too many question marks involved in this deal.
Grade: C