Would the Philadelphia 76ers accept this deal?
Philly only has one first-round pick available to trade, but it is worth parting with it to get an All-Star who wants to play for the franchise. Jrue Holiday would cover for Tyrese Maxey’s defensive woes, give the Sixers another ball-handler, and prevent him from going to an Eastern Conference rival. The 76ers would be behind the Bucks and Celtics in the East’s pecking order, but no team would look forward to facing them.
This deal solves their James Harden problem. The ten-time All-Star heads to his preferred destination, and the Sixers arguably get an upgrade. Holiday is a superior defender and played a crucial role in the Bucks 2021 championship. Philadelphia wants to build a title contender around Joel Embiid, and Holiday certainly helps their cause.
This is a bold move for the Sixers because it leaves them with no draft capital to improve their roster at the deadline if things are not working, but Philadelphia has to be all-in around one of the best players in the world just like the Bucks.
Grade: B+
This is one of the best-case scenarios for the Philadelphia 76ers. They are not getting an All-Star back for James Harden unless a third team is involved, and the Blazers appear to be the only confirmed seller right now. Jrue Holiday is a fantastic fit and allows the Sixers to stay in contention.
Will they pull off a massive move? Does James Harden get traded before the deadline? There is plenty of drama as training camp is about to begin, so stay tuned for all the latest.
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