OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: OCTOBER 2023

One first. Two seconds. One swap.

 

I’m skeptical that any top tier free agent is gonna want to play in Philly. But the best part is that Philly has nothing to show for Ben Simmons. They gave up two picks and Seth Curry as well to get Harden. Totally hilarious.

 

Right! If it doesn’t hurt you much to get the bad seed out sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. It’s a W for the Sixers in my view.

 

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1719341559907238286?s=46&t=tWD5tLU_gzZDUOTE4YAuSw

 

I'm guessing it's not a coincidence that this deal happened right after Maxey won Eastern Conference Player of the Month

 

This is going to fuck over your boy Russ.

 

I wish there was a way to re-route him here. I'd honestly swap him for Brogdon but the salaries aren't close and you can't bundle Nico now he's been traded.

 

Ah so the swap is going to OKC for a pick.

 

Yeah the reporting is confusing, I couldn’t tell if they got the extra pick and a different swap. But I think you’re right, two 1sts, two 2nds, no swap.

 

I don't know. There will be a way to utilize that cap-space, either via trade for a team that wants to blow it up (Chicago / ZL?), or someone that really likes Joel and wants to play with him. I think they have a way to move forward. It would have been good of them to get something for Harden, unfortunately for them, he did enough to force them to get garbage + a late pick.

 

So Presti traded a guaranteed pick for a swap? I get he's banking on the Clippers not being good in '27, and OKC being good so that they can move up, but that's a pretty shitty deal. But, when you have a huge stockpile of picks, and you can't possibly roster them all, I suppose those are the brilliant deals you make?

 

Philly did not get that much but that is what Harden is worth. Guy has bailed on his last three teams and has not shown to be the easiest player to co-exist with other stars. 76'ers might have hoped to wait on dealing Harden until after the trade restrictions for most players end in December or January. Will be a gamble to see what they can get in a few months.

 

2 -- 1st round picks and a pick swap even if they turn out to be in the 20's is still a good haul for Harden and those who do not think that really have no clue -- also it's possible those players with those picks could be turned into something else so again -- very solid

 

The harden trade removes the clippers as a potential brogdon trade partner, but potentially makes the heat more so. Also, unlikely, but Grant to philly if Tobias goes out as part of some other deal they make

 

The initial reporting was one pick, 2 seconds and a swap.

The swap was traded to OKC for a pick.

But this is still Philly basically getting nothing for Simmons. They traded him, 2 picks, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond for Harden. They’re essentially getting their picks back and going back to zero because they got no young players in this deal. If Morey hadn’t been an idiot and traded a malcontent for another malcontent, he might be in better shape.

 

Agree that Harden was not my choice but Simmons did not have much value and still does not. They got two post seasons plus a regular season that Harden led the league in assists. The picks h
ave upside (albeit limited) as well. The ones he traded do/not.

 

daryl v. masai. could be fun.

 

I don't see a way for Batum to get back to Portland. Just doesn't seem to be in the cards.