• The 76ers may be running out of options to trade James Harden
• Could they ultimately use him as an expiring contract dump to get a star-level player from the Bulls?
• DeMar DeRozan will find a new home in this proposed trade
The Philadelphia 76ers are about to run into a brick wall of trade options for James Harden. With both Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday getting traded to Eastern Conference Rivals, the Bucks, and the Celtics, the 76ers need to find some good value for Harden. An unmotivated Harden may end up poisoning their franchise instead of helping them move forward.
The Chicago Bulls are currently rudderless and completely okay with trending through mediocrity. They are likely a play-in team, but it’s hard to say they can even make it out of the first round in the packed East. To expedite their process of deciding on a direction, they could send out DeMar DeRozan for a one-year trial with Harden.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: James Harden
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: DeMar DeRozan
What each player would bring to their respective team may heighten the overall level of accomplishment for either franchise. The odds the 76ers find any offer with a player of DeRozan’s caliber are looking unlikely unless they hold onto Harden until February and undergo a slow start to the season.
The Bulls Take A Low-Risk Punt On A Superstar-Caliber Point Guard
The Bulls have needed an elite point guard next to Zach LaVine for years. They put Lonzo Ball next to him and the Bulls started looking like a contender in the East until Ball got hurt. He hasn’t played since January 2022 and is already ruled out for the entirety of next season as well. Instead of settling for subpar play from Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls can use James Harden to be the bonafide point guard for the franchise.
Harden led the league in assists last season, averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. With an offensive center like Nikola Vucevic who can both pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll, Harden would be able to give the Bulls a very cogent offensive system. It’ll also make the best use of LaVine’s off-ball movement abilities, given that LaVine is at his best while hunting open shots through his off-ball movement instead of creating in the ball.
If it doesn’t work out, Harden is a free agent next season and they can cut ties with him and begin the process of their rebuild. If it does work, the Bulls could possibly return to being a threat in the East in the near future, with moves to tweak the team also being available.
The 76ers Make The Best Of A Bad Situation
Honestly speaking, it looks like the options for Harden fetching a decent-quality player look slim. But a deal like this to get DeRozan may lead to the 76ers acquiring the best player they can and continuing with contention this season. The 76ers won’t need to go through the complications of having Harden in the locker room and can focus on winning, with DeRozan also searching for his first championship.
The 2023 All-Star averaged solid numbers for the Bulls, putting up 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season. The numbers didn’t translate to winning, as the Bulls scraped into the play-in and lost the eight-seed game to the Miami Heat. Ending up on the 76ers allows him to provide versatility for the contending squad. DeRozan can be a frontcourt pair with Tobias Harris or slide into the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey.
His scoring ability will be very useful for a team that won’t have Harden anymore. Even though he isn’t the same level of playmaker, DeRozan is one of the better passing forwards in the league right now. With Maxey being ready for more responsibility and De’Anthony Melton being a solid backup guard, the 76ers may have exactly what they need.
Both Teams Can Walk Away Happy
A trade like this may seem unconventional, as both teams would probably want to acquire these players without it being a straight swap. But the financial issues of the deal make this an easy swap. In addition, each player has a more profound chance to succeed on the other side based on the opportunities alive. The Bulls haven’t found a point guard to run their pseudo-contending core, with Harden being perfect for what both LaVine and Vucevic need.
DeRozan doesn’t replace the lost playmaking from Harden but adds another pure scorer to a 76ers team that often ends up locking up offensively. DeRozan has had his fair share of bad playoff moments as well but will need to put that aside to give it a full try on a roster like the 76ers. His fit across the frontline should play well on multiple lineups if he becomes a 76er.
Even though these are slight steps forward, it’s ultimately a step forward nonetheless. The Bulls have been dealing with their point guard being hurt for almost two years now, and they need to find a solution instead of praying Lonzo can come back early.
The 76ers also cannot get anyone to give them enough for Harden, giving the assists leader away for a bonafide bucket in this deal. It may not be easy to stomach, but it’ll work out for both teams based on their unique circumstances.
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