One NBA writer is proposing that the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers make a blockbuster trade centered around Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed that the Mavericks trade Irving to the Sixers for Harden.
“What if the Sixers and Mavericks tried scratching the other’s back in a one-for-one swap of scoring guards? It would certainly be an interesting plot twist in the Harden sweepstakes and the latest of many surprises in Irving’s career,” Buckley wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “It just might work, too. Irving’s superior scoring punch and ability to deliver on the playoff stage could be more appealing to Philly, since it won’t want to run Embiid ragged and could want to increase Tyrese Maxey’s playmaking responsibilities.
“Dallas also might covet Harden’s distributing and ability to get to the free-throw line. Both could ease the offensive burden on Dončić, whose 35.6 usage percentage is tops all-time among players with 2,000-plus career minutes. Each club could be convinced that it can squeeze a little more out of the incoming player than the other team has. Who knows if either would be proven right, but it would be fascinating to see them take the challenge.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers and wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, Philadelphia can trade Harden anywhere since the 2017-18 NBA MVP doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
In 58 games for the Sixers last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with the Mavericks last season. He finished the 2022-23 season with averages of 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists with the Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks.
Irving has a 15% trade kicker in his new contract with the Mavericks, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. A trade kicker is the percentage of a player’s salary that is awarded as a bonus in the event of a trade. Irving re-signed with the Mavericks on a three-year, $126 million contract on the first day of free agency.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Mavericks would have a new Big 2 of Harden and Luka Doncic, while the Sixers would have a new Big 3 of Irving, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey if Dallas traded Irving to Philadelphia for Harden.
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