- This proposed trade has James Harden move to the Golden State Warriors
- The Warriors improve offensively by adding James Harden
- The Philadelphia 76ers remain competitive after trading a star
The Golden State Warriors are a team that is expected to compete next season, as they still have superstar Stephen Curry on the roster. As long as that is the case and he is playing at an MVP level, the team will have a chance to win the championship.
The team has already made win-now moves this summer, notably acquiring point guard Chris Paul. It is clear that the team is prioritizing the acquisition of veterans, and perhaps there is another difference-making trade the team could make ahead of next season. Our potential trade scenario involves the Warriors going after disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden.
Golden State Warriors Receive: James Harden
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody
There is no doubt that James Harden could end up being a difference-maker for the Golden State Warriors. He is a former MVP who, at this point of his career, only wants to play winning basketball and compete for a championship. Here is why this trade makes sense for both the Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers.
James Harden Can Be An X-Factor For The Golden State Warriors
Even though he is no longer at the peak of his powers, James Harden has shown that he can be a contributor on a winning team. Last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game while shooting 38.5% from 3PT range. In theory, Harden would start at the shooting guard position for the Warriors after this trade, sliding Klay Thompson to the small forward position.
The issue for the Golden State Warriors has always been their offensive play: their defensive rating in the playoffs was 6th out of 16 qualified teams, at 112.1. However, their lack of a consistent offensive presence outside of Stephen Curry was exposed against the Los Angeles Lakers. No Warriors starter averaged above 17.0 PPG against the Lakers outside of Curry, and it is clear that another offensive threat could end up helping them going forward. It is fair to have concerns about the perimeter defense without Andrew Wiggins, but the defensive drop-off could be entirely worth it for Harden’s offensive production.
James Harden would give the team another pick-and-roll ball handler in the starting lineup, and his playmaking ability would make things easier for the 3PT shooters in the lineup. There would be no pressure on him to be the No. 1 option on the team either, and playing next to Stephen Curry means that he could have one of the most efficient seasons of his career as the No. 2 option.
Though acquiring James Harden might mean that Chris Paul has a smaller role on the team, it would still be worth it. Paul would likely be the sixth man coming off the bench in this scenario, and positional fit shouldn’t necessarily be an issue. The Warriors’ strengths have always been about small-ball and guard play, and this trade would have them lean into that. One underrated factor is James Harden being a good rebounder as a guard, which obviously bodes well for his fit in a small-ball system.
The risk for the Golden State Warriors would obviously be James Harden being on an expiring contract. As of right now, his preferred destination is the Los Angeles Clippers, and there is no guarantee that he will sign an extension with the Golden State Warriors. However, if the team is competitive and is in real competition to win a championship, then it is quite likely James Harden will stay. The Warriors have also shown a willingness to sign older players to long-term contracts already, and perhaps they would do the same for James Harden.
Overall, adding James Harden would increase the overall talent of the Warriors, and could put them back in championship contention. It would be interesting to see whether he can thrive in the Warriors’ ecosystem, and his skill set could end up giving them a new dynamic on offense.
The Philadelphia 76ers Will Get A Solid Package For James Harden’s Expiring Contract
The Philadelphia 76ers’ primary goal is to remain competitive with Joel Embiid after a James Harden trade. This deal from the Golden State Warriors would give them a package with a number of win-now players that could help the team remain competitive.
The main return in this deal would obviously be former All-Star Andrew Wiggins, who has developed into a solid two-way player with the Warriors. This past season, Wiggins averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 39.6% from 3PT range. He was notably teammates with Joel Embiid during their time in college at Kansas, so there is also a degree of familiarity there. In theory, Wiggins gives the team the elite wing player that they’ve been missing, and he could be a perfect No. 3 option behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Gary Payton II is a solid defensive guard who would likely come off the bench for the squad. Moses Moody is a young prospect who has 3 and D potential going forward. He would likely get more minutes on the Philadelphia 76ers, and perhaps he could end up developing into a solid role player.
Overall, this is a solid value deal for the Philadelphia 76ers that would allow them to remain in the mix among Eastern Conference powerhouses. This is one of the best returns they could get for James Harden’s expiring contract, and if the Warriors do want Harden, it is a no-brainer.
This Could Be A Win-Win Deal For Both Teams
There is no doubt that this could be a good deal for both the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers. It makes sense for the Warriors to try to make an upgrade from a talent standpoint and go all-in on the Stephen Curry timeline, just like it makes sense for the 76ers to try and stay competitive despite trading a star.
It remains to be seen if the two teams agree to a trade with this framework in the future. Though James Harden has not yet expressed a desire to join the Golden State Warriors, anything is possible in the future.
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