It has been a few days since NBA rumors broke about James Harden potentially parting ways with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was reported that the Sixers are now finding a viable trade deal for Harden, who appears to have indicated his clear desire to jump ship. Nothing has materialized as of yet, though, which isn’t all that surprising given the magnitude of this potential blockbuster deal.
ESPN’s NBA guru Adrian Wojnarowski has now provided a crucial update on Harden’s trade saga. Apparently, it’s now a possibility that James remains in Philadelphia beyond this summer.
Damian Lillard’s Shocking Trade Demand Could Complicate James Harden Situation
Another massive development that sent shockwaves throughout the league is Damian Lillard wanting out of the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s another superstar that is now trying to find a new home for the upcoming season. According to Woj, Dame’s trade demand could actually have a significant impact on Harden and the 76ers:
“It’s more than conceivable,” Woj said of Harden potentially staying in Philadelphia. “That’s been Daryl Morey’s track record of not just giving away an asset and they do have time on their side in the offseason. But they’ll be engaged with teams, and I do think that with Lillard being on the market, in one aspect, it can make it harder for Philly if teams are prioritizing a Damian Lillard trade. But there might be a way where there’s a multi-team deal that allows all of them to get what they want. Those typically don’t come together very quickly.”
Woj says it’s conceivable that James Harden starts the season as a Sixer pic.twitter.com/fE6xRwl5jd
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) July 2, 2023
Did Woj just hint at a possible blockbuster trade deal that will center around Harden AND Lillard? He did say that this could potentially involve multiple teams, which means that it isn’t likely that Lillard and Harden will be switching sides. Then again, if you think about it, would a straight-up superstar swap between the 76ers and the Blazers actually work?
Can The Milwaukee Bucks Actually Land James Harden?
The Milwaukee Bucks will need to give up some major assets if they want to land a bona fide superstar such as James Harden. One trade scenario that has been floated is the Bucks sending over Jrue Holiday to the 76ers in exchange for Harden. Money-wise, the deal works. However, it’s also possible that Milwaukee will need to send draft assets to Philly (a future first-round pick?) to sweeten the deal.
James Harden playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo is a frightening prospect. However, would this be a deal worth making for the Bucks? Would James Harden really be a significant upgrade to Jrue Holiday considering the former’s shortcomings on the defensive end? These are questions that can only be answered by the front office, and it wouldn’t be a shock if they’ve already done their due diligence on the same.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.
