NBA Trade Analysis: Evaluating the impact of the James Harden trade

Oct 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden in plain clothes on the bench during the second quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden in plain clothes on the bench during the second quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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James Harden, Robert Covington – Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Who won the trade?

Bill: “I think the Sixers won the trade and they’ve got draft picks that they could move for an established player. They have to hold all of the players they got in the trade for the Clippers until January. I think the Sixers made out pretty well. I mean, this deal could have been made this summer, but Daryl Morey dragged his feet and that’s what bothered me the most. If you had this trade in place in the summertime, you’d have a lot more flexibility.

Francisco: “ It’s tough. I think both teams benefit from the trade in their own ways.  LA fits another star into their system to pair with Paul George, Kawhi Leonard & Russell Westbrook…and The Sixers get a distraction off their hands with Harden.  Unless The Sixers can trade for another big piece this season, I would say as of right now The Clippers won the trade”.

Seth: “I truly believe that both teams won the trade. The Sixers created much more flexibility and assets to work with in future trades, along with adding more depth and help on the wing, which they have been lacking for years, and the Clippers, while it definitely seems to be a risky move, have the chance to go all in this season to win a championship. I do think that the trade benefits the Sixers more in the short-term and long-term than the Clippers, after seeing how Tyrese Maxey has shown the ability to take his game to the next level. The Sixers can still compete now and trade for another piece to bolster their roster or hold on to valuable draft assets, while the Clippers seemingly depleted their draft capital and are solely focusing on this year, which is why I would rather be in the Sixers’s situation opposed to the Clippers at the moment”.