- The Philadelphia 76ers get a shot-creating forward in Brandon Ingram
- The New Orleans Pelicans land James Harden and some draft compensation
- This trade could help the Philadelphia 76ers compete for a championship
The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that fell short in the Eastern Conference once again this season, only making the second round despite the presence of Joel Embiid on the roster. Perhaps the time is now for them to make some changes to the roster, especially after James Harden requested a trade.
Moving James Harden and getting a solid player in return should be the main priority for the Philadelphia 76ers. This article covers a potential trade framework that sends him to the New Orleans Pelicans, in exchange for star Brandon Ingram.
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: James Harden, 2029 First-Round Pick Swap (Favoring NOP), 2030 First-Round Pick
There is no doubt that this is a move that could help both teams in their current situations. Here is why both the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Orleans Pelicans should consider making this trade.
The Philadelphia 76ers Finally Get An Elite Wing Player To Pair With Joel Embiid
Though the James Harden-Joel Embiid tandem worked relatively well in the regular season for the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the issues for the team has been their lack of a clutch-time perimeter player who can take and make big shots. Though James Harden is still a solid point guard, his current skill set and past playoff runs suggest that he isn’t the right player to take those shots. Brandon Ingram was one of the most clutch players in the league last season, and adding him could take the Philadelphia 76ers to the next level.
This past season, Brandon Ingram averaged 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.8 APG for the New Orleans Pelicans, while shooting 39.0% from 3PT range. There’s no doubt that he is the sort of player that pairs well with Joel Embiid, as a do-it-all wing player with the size and length to score against anyone. One of Ingram’s key strengths is midrange scoring, which is extremely useful in tight situations when it comes to the postseason.
Though typically a player like Brandon Ingram would have higher value, his trade value likely dropped this season due to his durability issues. Though Ingram is clearly a good player, he has not managed to log more than 65 games since his rookie season. Meanwhile, James Harden has been a durable player for most of his career and played 13 more games than Ingram last season (58 to 45).
This trade would allow the Philadelphia 76ers to go younger around Joel Embiid, while also getting a player who fits better on the roster than Harden. Joel Embiid could definitely win a championship with Brandon Ingram as his co-star, and if the 76ers can get him then they should absolutely do so.
The New Orleans Pelicans Bring In A Veteran Presence And Get Some Draft Picks
The New Orleans Pelicans have only made the playoffs once during Zion Williamson’s tenure, and it is clear that the team needs some veteran guidance that can help them take the next step as a team. James Harden is the perfect candidate for that: he is a seasoned veteran who has been to the Finals and has also been part of many deep playoff runs.
Last season, James Harden averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 10.7 APG for the Philadelphia 76ers, and he helps the New Orleans Pelicans in a variety of ways. James Harden can allow CJ McCollum to fit in more to his natural shooting guard role while taking on the floor general duties for the team. He could also get Zion Williamson easy buckets, and utilize the forward as a lob threat more frequently than has previously been the case with the Pelicans.
Trading Brandon Ingram for James Harden also allows the New Orleans Pelicans to start promising forward Trey Murphy III, who has shown that he is already one of the best 3PT shooters in the league, averaging 40.6% from 3PT range on 6.3 attempts a game. Giving the young forward more usage could be just what he needs to grow, and Murphy is also a natural fit with Williamson due to his shooting ability.
Of course, most teams wouldn’t trade a 25-year-old star for a 33-year-old star straight up, which is why the New Orleans Pelicans get a first-round pick and a pick swap in this scenario. That should be enough to tempt the Pelicans into giving up Ingram, especially since the forward only has two years left on his deal.
This Deal Could Be A Win For Both Parties
This deal could potentially work out for both teams, and there are clear benefits to both parties. For the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s about getting a young star that fits Joel Embiid’s timeline, while also providing the sort of skills the team needs to win a championship. Though they would have to give up some valuable draft picks to do so, it is worth the risk when an MVP candidate like Joel Embiid is on the roster.
For the New Orleans Pelicans, this trade is one to get a respected veteran in James Harden, who is also a good fit with superstar Zion Williamson. Positionally, Harden also makes sense for a team that is devoid of a true point guard. Of course, his being on a one-year deal hurts, but the draft compensation should make it a solid proposition for the team regardless.
We will see whether either team ends up following through with a deal that has this framework in the future. Though this would definitely be an unexpected trade, it could be something that helps both teams achieve their goals in the league.
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