As the Houston Rockets re-evaluate the current state of their roster, questions and concerns have been drawn regarding the partnership of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
In a recent article by Mark Camarena of Fansided’s Space City Scoop, he used the potential breakup of this duo as the core element in a trade that would see Sixers big man Joel Embiid suit up for the Rockets next season.
“This would be the ideal trade for the 76ers, with Houston being the team calling for the services of Embiid, leaving the Sixers with the leverage. Philly would love to dump the contract they awarded Tobias Harris last offseason on Houston in exchange for Westbrook’s contract, which would be more costly, but for less time. The last time Covington wore a 76ers uniform he was NBA All-Defensive First Team, which they surely remember. Covington would be welcomed back with open arms and Eric Gordon would be thrown in to balance out the cap space within the trade.”
With long-distance shooting being a major problem for the Sixers, the acquisition of Robert Covington and Eric Gordon would help fill that need, while Westbrook would step into the star role left by Embiid’s departure. Alongside Ben Simmons, there’s potential for an interesting collection of talent.
While James Harden has tried playing with a star center in the past (see: Dwight Howard), Joel Embiid’s versatile and limitless skillset make him an ideal partner for any NBA superstar, but especially for Harden, whose constant scoring attack will allow easier opportunities for the star big man.
In the end, there are clear advantages for both sides, but one can never predict the likelihood of a trade this magnitude becoming a reality.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
