Three Reasons Why James Harden Won’t Be a Sixer
It seems James Harden time in Houston is nearing its end, and with the Rockets likely to shed the former MVP and perennial All-Star, the 76ers are reportedly one of his top destinations and many NBA fans believe his most likely next team.
Although the 76ers new President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has strong ties with Harden, there is just too much in the way to actually bring the pairing to life.
Sixers Love Their Two Stars
Both Morey and 76ers’ new Head Coach Doc Rivers have come out in support of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons time and time again this offseason, reiterating their plans to build a team around the two stars rather than replace them.
Joel Embiid remains the face of the franchise for the 76ers and the odds of him being traded are as close to zero as possible and while many speculate they would be willing to part ways with Simmons, Daryl Morey assures otherwise.
“Joel and Ben will be here for a long time,” Morey told reporters. “We have two young superstars in their prime, and we want to build around them.”
Sixers Are Lacking Necessary Assets
While some believe that a trade package centered around Tobias Harris would be able to get the job done, the max contract the Sixers gave him the last offseason would be enough to turn away most GMs in the league.
Now, suppose the Rockets didn’t mind the Harris contract, the Sixers still would not have enough assets to compete with other teams in the running for the former MVP. For example, here are two hypothetical trade packages that could be offered by the Sixers and perhaps the second most popular predicted destination for Harden, the Brooklyn Nets.
Sixers Are a Young Team With Potential – Does Harden Fit With That?
With some new decision-makers in the front office and a new head coach guiding them, the 76ers look poised to finally capitalize on their young talent this season. After adding some veteran perimeter shooting threats (Seth Curry, Danny Green) as well as adding some young talent to their promising young roster (Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe), the 76ers are one of the few teams in the NBA with the talent to succeed today and the youth to continue that through the future.
Now if the 76ers were to acquire Harden, who turned 31 in August, they would have to rid themselves of that young talent, tightening their window to win a title and putting win-now pressure on their players and decision-makers, a route that has often ended in failure.
Overall, there may be truth to the rumors of interest between the 76ers and the former MVP, but it is far too unlikely for a deal to come to fruition with the many obstacles in the way.
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