- James Harden wants to be traded and the 76ers must move him now
- Jrue Holiday is now the hottest commodity on the trade market with many teams after him
- The 76ers and Clippers can each have a dominant starting lineup with a trade this offseason
The Damian Lillard trade has rocked the NBA because the Milwaukee Bucks might have the best starting lineup in the NBA right now. A superteam is exactly what Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted in Milwaukee and he has it. Not to be outdone by the Bucks, there are a host of teams right now who will be looking to improve their rosters and make a move immediately.
Amazingly, there are three teams that can benefit from a blockbuster trade and it involves the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Portland Trail Blazers. There is a three-team trade out there that would make each team better off this upcoming season and equalize the NBA landscape that is currently shifting toward the Eastern Conference.
Here is the blockbuster trade idea between the 76ers, Clippers, and Trail Blazers that causes All-Stars to move teams and also changes the landscape of the league even further.
Trade Details
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Jrue Holiday
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: James Harden
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Bones Hyland
Clearly, this is a blockbuster deal that causes a ton of change across three teams and it is time to go through each one, discussing the advantages of the deal and also what the starting lineups look like.
Philadelphia 76ers Re-Tool Without James Harden
The Philadelphia 76ers need to trade James Harden as soon as possible because the situation could get even uglier in terms of the player’s beef with Daryl Morey. The All-Star guard has been known to make things uncomfortable when he doesn’t get his way and the 76ers can’t afford to have that when they are trying to win with reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Here is what the starting lineup looks like with Jrue Holiday coming on board in the trade.
Starting Lineup: Tyrese Maxey, Jrue Holiday, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker, Joel Embiid
The 76ers won’t need James Harden to get back to the second round of the playoffs and Holiday brings a tougher defensive mind to the team. Jrue Holiday, renowned for his defensive prowess, would immediately bolster the 76ers’ defense. His ability to guard multiple positions and disrupt opponents’ offensive schemes through steals, blocks, and on-ball pressure would enhance the Sixers’ overall defensive capabilities.
The guard has made five All-Defensive Teams over his career and at 33 years old, he still has a few years left at an elite level. While Holiday is not a playmaker on Harden’s level, he is also a proficient playmaker. His presence would alleviate some of the playmaking burden from Tyrese Maxey, allowing the 76ers to diversify their offensive approach. Holiday’s court vision, decision-making, and knack for setting up teammates would facilitate smoother offensive execution.
While James Harden undoubtedly possesses exceptional offensive skills, his playing style often demands the ball. With his departure, the 76ers can redistribute shot attempts and optimize floor spacing. Holiday’s willingness to play off the ball and spot-up shooting would complement Joel Embiid’s inside presence and create more open looks for the team. Last season, Holiday shot 38.4% from deep and that will be very useful as Embiid gets fed the ball more than last season.
Los Angeles Clippers Create A Superteam In The West
The Los Angeles Clippers have a very important season coming up because, after 2024, both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have player options that they could decline to become free agents. By trading for All-Star guard James Harden, the Clippers can form a scary superteam.
Starting Lineup: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
James Harden, an offensive virtuoso renowned for his scoring, playmaking, and basketball IQ, would bring an instant offensive upgrade to the Clippers. His scoring repertoire, characterized by step-back threes, crafty drives, and adept finishing around the rim, would bolster the team’s offensive arsenal. Last season, The Beard led the league in assists with 10.7 and did a spectacular job alongside Joel Embiid.
The Clippers’ offensive strategy has, in recent times, relied heavily on the dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. When one or both of the stars have missed significant time, Los Angeles has been middle of the road at best. Harden’s addition would diversify offensive options, alleviating the burden on Leonard and George. This newfound flexibility would make the Clippers a more unpredictable and challenging team to defend against.
Perhaps most importantly, Harden’s ability to play All-Star-level basketball in the regular season will mean the Clippers can capture a top-four seed even if Leonard and George continue to miss time through injury. The days of relying on pure teamwork and coaching could be over because a legitimate regular-season star can arrive in town and allow Leonard and George to lead once the playoffs arrive. Not to mention, Harden is hungrier than ever to win his first championship, which still eludes him to this point.
Portland Trail Blazers Add A Key Starter To Get Out Of The Lottery
Portland is rebuilding following the Lillard trade and has some exciting young pieces for the future including Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and the newly acquired Deandre Ayton. By trading Jrue Holiday, the Trail Blazers can bring Norman Powell in and create a very solid starting lineup that looks playoff-bound.
Starting Lineup: Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Norman Powell, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton
In receiving Terance Mann and Bones Hyland, the Portland Trail Blazers would acquire promising young talent with high ceilings. Mann has shown flashes of versatility and defensive tenacity, while Hyland possesses a smooth shooting stroke and scoring instincts. These additions align with a youth-oriented rebuilding strategy because both players are not even in their prime yet.
Norman Powell, who would be joining the Blazers, is a dynamic scorer known for his ability to create his own shot and space the floor. His scoring prowess would offer the Blazers a consistent offensive threat, particularly important if the team seeks to transition to a more up-tempo style of play. He posted 17.0 points on 39.7% shooting from three last year and would be an immediate starter for the team.
The inclusion of Powell, Mann, and Hyland could help the Blazers in building a more balanced and versatile roster. These players have different skill sets that can complement existing talents, offering the team a more well-rounded approach to games. The new starting lineup actually looks solid for a play-in spot which would give youngsters Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe some heavy exposure to playoff basketball.
A Shocking Deal That Gives Every Team What They Need
It is not often a blockbuster deal involving more than two teams ends up with every side winning, but this is a case in which it does. The 76ers do not want to keep competing in the Eastern Conference because of superstar Joel Embiid, and they still have a contending roster that can finish among the top-four seeds in the conference.
As a result, bringing a two-time All-Star and former NBA champion, Jrue Holiday makes perfect sense. Philadelphia not only surrounds Embiid with shooters and defenders, but they acquire a professional who doesn’t cause drama and plays hard every night.
The Clippers add the player they have been targeting James Harden and create a starting lineup that looks to be a super team. Russell Westbrook and James Harden have experience playing with each other in Oklahoma City and Houston and can rekindle their friendship alongside an elite two-way duo of Leonard and George.
Even if Leonard or George miss time through injuries, Harden can pick up the slack and lead the team to regular-season victories and a top-four seeding at least. The Clippers need to win as soon as possible or risk losing all their championship-quality players to free agency.
Finally, Portland did well in the Damian Lillard trade by adding Deandre Ayton but can continue changing the core by moving Jrue Holiday. Norman Powell is still 30 years old and can help a side get to the playoffs, giving youngster Scoot Henderson a chance to gain immediate exposure as the star of the team.
The additions of Bones Hyland and Terance Mann also boost their bench, as the former is 23 years old and the latter is only 26. With Portland getting younger and also having a solid team to try to make the postseason with, this happens to be a deal that helps every team involved for an exciting 2024 campaign ahead of us.
