76ers finally trade Harden to LA in this proposed three-team blockbuster

Why this deal works for Philadelphia

Well, unless you have been living under a rock, you probably already know that James Harden’s contract situation makes him far from an appealing star to go after, even for teams that are actually in the business of chasing the hotter names available for plucking.

Just to get this out of the way — the 76ers are not getting a star of any degree for Harden. The market has interjected that quite a lot, and that’s not about to change with all teams already in camp. That however, does not inhibit them from netting a tempting return that could bolster not only their present title bid, but also their asset management for the foreseeable future.

Buddy Hield and Terance Mann are two of the most wanted role players in the league, the former being widely made available although the latter has been quite the opposite. Those two players will instantly re-stabilize the backcourt amid Harden’s 20-10 sized hole and provide more variance to the team’s already expansive attack.

Norman Powell and Marcus Morris Sr. remain more than serviceable at this point, and while a logjam could ensue with them in town, Tobias Harris is (finally) being casted off the payroll in this trade and leaves the forward rotation quite thin. Nevertheless, both can be used as trade chips if neither pans out.

Oh, and Philadelphia bags a first-round pick just by pushing the Harden and Harris exits a year earlier? Sweet. A no-brainer even, I’d say.