In the wake of James Harden requesting a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, one NBA writer has proposed that the Boston Celtics trade for the 10-time All-Star.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN is proposing that the Celtics trade Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III to the Sixers for Harden.
“Despite outlasting Harden and the Sixers in a seven-game conference semifinal series, Boston could use a playmaking upgrade — particularly after trading away Marcus Smart as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal,” Pelton wrote. “After cobbling together salaries to add Porzingis, the Celtics have limited salaries to send out in a trade. Presuming Jaylen Brown wasn’t part of a Harden deal, a trade would probably have to involve Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III, with the latter a candidate to be rerouted to a third team given his overlap with Embiid at center.
“Dealing Brogdon and particularly the 25-year-old Williams for Harden would make Boston a much older team, meaning the Celtics would have to weigh the potential upside of strengthening their 2024 title odds at the expense of maintaining the longest possible window to build a championship team around Brown and Jayson Tatum.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Celtics would have a lethal Big 4 of Harden, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis if Brad Stevens traded for Harden, who intends to “never wear” a Sixers uniform again, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
After Harden learned about the Sixers’ plans to not give him a max deal, he opted into his player option and requested a trade. The 2017-18 MVP believes he should be compensated fairly after averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists last season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, but the Sixers can trade the lefty anywhere since Harden doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
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