• James Harden has been agitating for a move away from the 76ers since the start of July
• Harden was angling for a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers
• Howard Beck claims he’s been told there are ‘three to four teams’ looking into acquiring Harden
The 2023 offseason has been slow-moving for everyone, especially stars that have put in trade requests. James Harden has been waiting for two months to end his tenure with the 76ers, but the franchise ended trade talks to move him.
Regardless, NBA insider Howard Beck says there is interest from teams trying to get Harden out of Philly.
(Starts at 10:15)
“I don’t know who the teams are. I’m told there’s like three or four teams, counting the Clippers, that would have some interest.”
Beck then tried hypothesizing where Harden could end up, suggesting a possible Brooklyn Nets reunion. He also named the Magic, Bulls, and Heat as possible suitors.
What’s The Best Situation For James Harden?
If Harden wants to win a title, there is no team better than the 76ers for him. He and Joel Embiid have wonderful on-court chemistry and have been a great duo. Unfortunately, there are massive concerns over both players in the postseason, so this being Harden’s best option is less than ideal. With his relationship with Daryl Morey turning sour after James called Morey a liar in China, this may be the last team Harden wants to play for.
The Bulls would be interesting, but it’d be hard for them to make the trade work without including someone like DeMar DeRozan, who averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists for the Bulls last season. His on-court fit in Philly is not ideal, and the Bulls will not be a playoff team by adding Harden, so this trade should be dead.
The Magic are a very intriguing destination for Harden, as they are a young squad full of offensive weapons. A floor general like Harden could unlock another level in their offensive game and help the franchise make a push toward the playoffs in year 2 of Paolo Banchero on the roster. Otherwise, Harden could always complete the Heat’s ambitions of acquiring a superstar point guard this summer if they fail to land Damian Lillard.
The Nets are the most intriguing fit, as the team is in no-man’s land with their direction. Adding Harden proves they want to make winning moves in the NBA and not strip their assets down for a rebuild. Spencer Dinwiddie will not lead you to the playoffs as your starting point guard, but Harden would excel with the off-ball offensive talents on the Nets roster.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
