2020-21-22 Sixers Season

[allentown]

Even if harden doesn't work out, you will get value back in a sign and trade.

Less than obvious, at least less than obvious that we get back nearly as much as we gave. Also, each year older, beyond prime. Each time a high $ guy fails or bails in a new town, his value goes down. You'd also get something for Simmons over the summer -- could have gotten a piece to help a bit now, and likely draft help if not shooting for a 'star' back. Not at all sure Harden won't be a team problem, but if he doesn't work out and we need to do a sign and trade to recover some value, then this trade will certainly have been a bust. If he does well and we re-sign him to play for us, then it's very likely a win. If we win a championship this year, or even just play in the championship game, then this trade is a plus.

[zambonir]

Harden will definitely end badly but there is no way he isn't sticking around for the next few years. And if he did force his way out of town it would happen while he still had value. More likely, the Sixers will be either losing games or desperate to unload him by 2025-2026 but the same might well be true of Joel.

Whatever happens, this season is now more fun, because the admittedly enjoyable regular season squad we've watched so far was still not championship material. This one may or may not be. But next year's team will also be different. I have no doubt they are going to get three seasons of value (counting this one) no matter what.

And you also can't discount the star power. The owners don't just care about winning, they want the hype and merch and national attention this provides.

[zambonir]

https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1492602372396392449/photo/1

[bkox]

Ironic

According to @Stathead , Embiid is only the second player ever with a 40-point triple double in 33 or fewer minutes.

The first was James Harden of the Rockets - also vs. the Cavs - in 2019: 43 pts, 10 reb., 12 assists in 30 minutes.

The NBA has been tracking minutes since 1960

— Reuben Frank ( @RoobNBCS ) February 13, 2022

[jimbomill]

How would cutting Simmons be better?

If Harden doesn't work out, paying Simmons (until he miraculously heals and goes to sign somewhere) is better than paying an injured (or eventually disenchanted) Harden's current salary let alone the extension, we'd be keeping the draft picks as well as the players (Curry and Drummond) to close out a somewhat successful run so far this season.

Now, a healthy and motivated Harden ..... that solves a lot going forward

[zambonir]

If Harden doesn't work out, paying Simmons (until he miraculously heals and goes to sign somewhere) is better than paying an injured (or eventually disenchanted) Harden's current salary let alone the extension, we'd be keeping the draft picks as well as the players (Curry and Drummond) to close out a somewhat successful run so far this season.

Emphasis on "somewhat." Still not even a team with home court in the first round right now. And was gonna have the same issue without Simmons as it did with him - what looked good in January wasn't going to survive playoff basketball when the style of play changes. And I suspect Curry (on defense like last year) and Drummond (as part of the bench unit) would have looked especially bad. Not that they don't still have problems without them.

Obviously Harden is all this franchise ever wanted. There's probably no other offer they would have actually taken this year (certainly not any of the ones that required them to send back Maxey or Thybulle). All along Morey's play had been that the market would change, not that Simmons' value would change, and Harden made that happen (along with the other two targets, Beal and Lillard, not actually looking super-available this summer).

[jimbomill]

Obviously Harden is all this franchise ever wanted

I cannot argue. Plus, if we couldn't peddle Simmons this past summer, I don't see how his value would increase if we waited until this upcoming summer.

The starting 5 is better with Harden, than with Curry. The bench has taken a hit.

[Philsmania]

Harden is not supposed to make his Sixers debut until after the all-star break.

James Harden practices for first time with Sixers but will not play until after...

Good heavens, I hope we don't have another Andrew Bynum on our hands.

[zambonir]

Hey at least he was really hurt I think this was just a sensible precaution given the timing of the trade and break.

But unfortunately he may not be 100% the rest of the year. Rivers also said something about him being healthy enough to play but not practice (which, teams barely practice at this point anyway but obviously there is a reason to do so now).

That might be the big risk going forward (and it's what already happened to the Nets to some extent): the Sixers have their two stars, but they might never both be fully healthy at the same time. One is fragile and one is old. Really, it's astonishingly lucky, at least from a Negadelphian perspective, that Joel isn't Bynum or Oden.

[xogfog]

Man, the Sixers got totally waxed by the Celtics, ouch.

[xogfog]

Sixers sign a backup center...

Source: Sixers signing Cauley-Stein to 10-day contract

[Squire]

Only a 10 day. I get the feeling that there is someone else they are hoping shakes loose.

[bigegypt0417]

The rumors are the Sixers may pursue Deandre Jordan if the Lakers buy him out...

Not sure what he has left in the tank but he's at least Dwight Howard.

[xogfog]

TV must watch reminder, Harden debuts tonight at 8:00pm...

[bkeich]

I am not optimistic about Harden, as I have stated, but I am still excited. Hoping I am wrong about his play, feel free to point it out to me when they have the parade

[phillychuck]

bkeich, hope you watched tonight. That's Harden playing as a facilitator first, and scorer second. As Jo said in the post-game, I have never been that open in my career.

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[zambonir]

They won't all be that easy, especially not come May. But the Sixers are a better team than they were before and a better team than they were last year. And any other scenario where they got better than this was either theoretical, implausible or might have cost them Maxey. And also might have wasted Embiid's career - and knock wood, healthiest - year.

If they don't win a championship with Harden it doesn't actually mean the trade failed, because they weren't winning one without him either. The worst scenario now would be if the Nets win one, and Ben thrives, but even that is moot since he wasn't going to thrive here.

[zambonir]

Thought they were gonna blow it there for a little bit.

[LegoDoom]

The spacing with Embiid and Harden is amazing. Maxey also fits. I know the NYK aren't good, but it was still fun to watch.

[phillychuck]

Knicks have been pretty good lately, and have a lot of offensive talent and rebounding. It was a solid road win; they dominated the last 6 minutes.

They will really be good once Green, Kork, Milton, and Harris figure out how to blend in. Thybulle, Maxey, and Niang are pretty comfortable already. Isaiah Joe should be getting some of Kork and Milton's minutes--he's more of a catch-and-shoot bomber, which is what Harden and Maxey play well with.