It finally happened. NBA fans have been waiting for this moment. Now, it’s here. James Harden is officially a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. After months of speculation, this is official.
The Philadelphia 76ers got a surprisingly solid haul for their superstar guard. They got some solid role players, but more importantly, they got two first-round picks. Suddenly, the Sixers have some assets. What will they do with them?
Well, if you’re familiar with general manager Daryl Morey, you can assume that they’ll look to trade for a star. That’s Morey’s entire MO. Now that the Sixers are armed with some draft capital, they could enter the star player market.
Here are three stars that we think they should take a look at.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
This feels like an obvious starting point. The Chicago Bulls are expected to make some big moves if they’re hovering around .500 leading up to the deadline. So far, they’re on pace to finish at .500. Will the Bulls inevitably host a fire sale?
We wouldn’t go that far. At .500, the Bulls are probably hoping to make strides as the season wears on. If they do, they’ll prefer to hang onto Zach LaVine. With that said, if they’re having another disappointing season, he ought to be available.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls, James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Is he the most sensible acquisition for the Sixers? That’s a different question. Tyrese Maxey has thrived so far as this team’s lead guard. The Sixers could decide that they’d do better to land a playmaking wing. If they agree, they’ll prefer this next target.
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
If the Philadelphia 76ers are concerned with team chemistry, they may like Pascal Siakam. He’s a close friend of Joel Embiid. Of course, that’s a secondary concern. Is Siakam a good basketball fit for this team?
That’s in the eye of the beholder. On the one hand, the defensive potential of Embiid and Siakam combined is enticing. Siakam would also be reuniting with former head coach Nick Nurse. While Nurse seemed to have a problematic relationship with some Raptors, it seems that he got along with Siakam. Are there any problems here?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Well, Embiid and Siakam don’t have the best combined spacing. They can both shoot, but neither is necessarily elite in that area. If the Sixers prefer to go in a different direction, they may look for a purer shooter than Siakam.
Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
Here, we’re purely speculating. There is substantially less trade chatter around Mikal Bridges than around Zach LaVine or Pascal Siakam. He may not be available. The Brooklyn Nets don’t control their draft until 2028 – this team has no incentive to tank.
At the same time, if they aren’t winning, they’ll have to do something. As it stands, the Nets are 1-2. Who knows? They could easily turn their season around. Yet, if they don’t, they could consider any course of action. If the Nets can coax three first-round picks out of the Sixers, they’d have to consider moving Bridges.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets, James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Sixers should be willing to part with that draft capital. Bridges would be a perfect third option behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. He’s an elite defender and a strong shooter. This one may not be inevitable, but don’t rule out the possibility.
