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5 players Sixers could acquire in Harden deal to stay competitive

By Christopher Kline

James Harden, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
James Harden, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Zach LaVine (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Zach LaVine (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /

No. 2 player 76ers could acquire in Harden trade: Zach LaVine

The Bulls were surprisingly reported as a potential Harden landing spot. While that’s a bit curious from Chicago’s perspective, Harden would provide a talent upgrade in the backcourt as well as a player who can elevate Chicago’s myriad role players on the offensive end.

One would imagine any Bulls trade is centered on Zach LaVine. The Sixers could theoretically ask for DeMar DeRozan instead, but LaVine is the better basketball fit, he’s younger, and he’s under contract for longer. The four years and roughly $178 million left on LaVine’s deal will be viewed as a negative by some, but the Sixers would be wise to value long-term financial commitment after years of roster turnover.

LaVine is better than he gets credit for. The Bulls have struggled to construct a winner around him, but LaVine averaged 24.8 points and 4.2 assists on 60.7 TS% last season. Injuries have been prevalent in the 28-year-old’s career of late, but when healthy he’s an absolute dynamo. His pull-up shooting, frequent rim pressure, and competence as a playmaker would make him right at home in Nick Nurse’s offense.

The Sixers need a proper co-star for Embiid. While Maxey has flashed the potential to one day become that, he’s not there yet. LaVine is less limited as a playmaker and would be able to function as Philadelphia’s lead ball-handler. The combined shooting and speed of LaVine and Maxey in the backcourt would make the Sixers very challenging to defend. Both have little trouble getting both feet in the paint and both thrive in transition.

Defensive concerns again rear their head, but the Sixers have been running Harden in that backcourt spot for 1.5 years now — it’s not like LaVine is a precipitous downgrade.