Nobody likes to be backed into a corner, especially not NBA teams. When you are, survival instincts kick in. The Philadelphia 76ers had better hope they’ve got strong instincts. At the moment, they’re backed into a corner.
James Harden hasn’t requested a trade – he’s demanded one. Harden wants to land on a new team, and he’s made it perfectly clear. The Sixers don’t have much leverage in negotiations. Teams know that their hand is forced.
There’s a lot of concern around Philadelphia. If Harden leaves, could Joel Embiid follow? We’re not sure how the situation is going to unfold. With that said, one wonders if Sixers GM Daryl Morey might have one last Hail Mary in him. Could he flip Harden for Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Chicago Bulls Receive: G James Harden, G/F Furkan Korkmaz, 2026 First-Round Pick (Swap – PHI), 2028 First-Round Pick (PHI), 2030 First-Round Pick (PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G/F Zach LaVine
The Bulls were backed into a corner this season as well. Nobody requested a trade. That was lucky – if they had, the Bulls would have been in a lot of trouble. This team had no incentive to lose games in 2022-23.
Harden may have backed the Sixers into a corner. The Bulls backed themselves into one. This team owed its first-round pick to the Orlando Magic. As a result, blowing up their roster wasn’t as appealing of an option as it otherwise would have been. After all, the Bulls woefully underperformed last season.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
As a result, the Magic received the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft from them. This was a failure of a season for the Bulls. With that in mind, some are expecting them to blow up their core ahead of 2023-24. Could they take the league by surprise and acquire Harden instead?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
Here’s the thing: there’s a world where this deal makes the Bulls a better team next season. This isn’t a rebuilding move for the Bulls, or a win-now move: it’s both. The Bulls are hedging a bet here.
Was Harden a more impactful player than LaVine last season? You bet. He’s got less trade value because he’s older, a flight risk, and a depreciated asset, but the point holds. Harden is one of the best playmakers in basketball. If he doesn’t suffer from age-related decline, he could make the Bulls better next season.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
That’s especially true when considering his friendship with DeRozan. These two grew up together. If that fact results in instant on-court chemistry, the Bulls could get better and have some draft capital to show for it here. Should the Sixers risk setting them up so nicely?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
Of course they should. If this is an option, the Sixers need to take it. This is all about Joel Embiid. In fact, any decision that the Sixers make moving forward should be.
After all, he’s the reigning MVP. Embiid is one of the best players in the NBA. The Sixers have to be concerned about his potential departure. If Harden leaves, it’s going to be difficult to find a replacement for him. Here, they’re emptying their reserves of draft capital to ensure that they’re able to do just that.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In fact, LaVine could be a better fit alongside Embiid anyway. He’s certainly a more willing off-ball player than Harden. If he can find some chemistry with Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers will once again have a star trio. Their backs may be up against the wall, but they’ve still got a chance to fight their way out of that corner.
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