The Philadelphia 76ers probably have two of the most highly desirable draft assets in the league as they control two of the Clippers’ first-round picks in 2028 and 2029 (the latter through a right to swap). However, the recent James Harden blockbuster trade may have shaved off some of the expected value imbued in those draft picks.
With the Clippers getting All-Star guard Darius Garland in return, their team found a way to get younger without sacrificing their win-now resolve. As everyone knows, LA has no incentive to start bottoming out soon given their lack of control over their draft picks, two of which will go to the 76ers. Alas, this pivot might just extend their shelf life as a playoff contender in the West.
After a terrible start to the season, the Clippers have turned in one of the best stretches in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard has led them to a now-respectable record in the brutal Western Conference and at this rate, they are likely to make it to the play-in tournament at the very least with an outside shot at making some upper echelon teams struggle in the first-round of the playoffs if they make it there.
James Harden may have just cost the 76ers a top pick in the future
Los Angeles’ future was already bleak regardless of their inspiring play as of late. After all, their core is one of the oldest ones in the league, and they really do not have the machinery to maintain a sustainable winning team for the next few years. As such, the 76ers were poised to have those picks turn out to be sterling ones.
Garland is not Harden, but he is younger by an entire decade. As long as the Clippers keep their key players, they could very well remain in the thick of things out West especially with a younger Robin to Kawhi’s Batman.
In addition, the Clippers are not exactly bereft of useful assets they can turn into younger commodities who can extend their competitive window. They have a slew of veterans on their roster who can be appealing targets for other teams with more proximate and immediate chances at winning the title. As such, LA’s brain trust can keep their recent act up by trying to get younger without spurning their chances at winning now.
And if that is the case, the 76ers could see the value of those Clippers picks get shaved off by a tad. Somehow, James Harden may have just screwed his former team up without anyone realizing it.