How to think about James Harden and Philadelphia
Hey! Enjoy this free issue of GOOD MORNING IT’S BASKETBALL, the world’s most consistent daily NBA/WNBA newsletter. The Fred VanVleet of pro basketball newsletters. With the trade deadline and NBA All-Star coming up, it’s a great time to become a paid subscriber. $5 per month or $50 per year. Click the button and it could all be yours. How to think about James Harden and PhiladelphiaSmokescreens, bulls--t, worries, windows. It's a lot.Good morning. Let’s basketball. Builder of Ships, George Bellows, 1916 I can tell I’m getting old in the basketball writing tooth because I’m completely spiritually ambivalent about the persistent rumors of a potential James Harden-Ben Simmons trade happening this week. Younger Me would have either been all-in on the necessity of a groundshaking trade (that earned me lots of grist for blog posts and theoryball pontification) or espousing a conspiracy theory that the continued rumors coming from the Basketball Media Industry were all baloney designed to churn up ratings for T.V. segments, views for the website and podcast listens. I probably would have spent so much time on the whole thing that if nothing came to fruition by Thursday afternoon, I would have been furious at all parties for their choice of statis. Really, I would have been mad at myself for devoting energy and time to literally nothing, in a job where it’s often hard to escape that feeling on a day-to-day basis. (I’m not as invested deeply in the Machiavellian machinations or the minute-by-minute rumormongering anymore, but at least I can still churn out a meta intro! I aim to be the internet recipe writer of NBA trade rumor world. Instead of "Skip to Recipe” I’m going to start including a “Skip to Take” link.) Here’s what I’m thinking about the current rumor, which is that to make a deal — which might not be on the table in any case whatsoever, to hear Nets coach Steve Nash tell it — the Sixers would have to throw in sweeteners.
That’s the trade-off, whether the Nets are actually considering this move now or whether the Sixers chase Harden in earnest this summer at the cost of moving Simmons, Tobias Harris (who I somehow haven’t mentioned once!) and/or Maxey. Open the window wider now at the risk of it slamming shut sooner -or- Keep the window open the same amount, preserving a future opportunity to open it wider or to keep it this wide for a longer amount of time It’s a philosophical question for which there is no right answer at that point. Something for Morey to decide, with a little help from the Nets. (By the way, if I’m the Nets and Durant is unopposed to trading Harden, I do the trade in a half-second. Get a younger defender who will be required to do much less on offense and should be fine with it since he’ll have Kevin freaking Durant on his team? In a half-second.) An Even Better Window Opening Pry BarScoresRaptors 116, Hornets 101 — Toronto and Boston are neck and neck with Brooklyn for the No. 6 seed. It’s going to be mighty interesting to see what the Raps and C’s do at the deadline. Mighty interesting. Anyway, Pascal Siakam looks like the bubble never happened. Suns 127, Bulls 124 — This seems worrisome. ![]() Suns were up 27 at one point; the game was not as close as the final score indicates. Knicks 104, Jazz 113 — Utah seems to have stabilized with the return of Donovan Mitchell. Go figure. This dunk is beautiful. He’s got real showmanship. ScheduleBusy 10-game schedule. All times Eastern. Suns at Sixers, 7*** LinksWe have All-Star replacements: LaMelo Ball will take Kevin Durant’s spot (Jayson Tatum will be a starter in KD’s place) and Dejounte Murray will take Draymond Green’s spot. Dejounte Murray, NBA All-Star: it happened. Via reader Lawrence, Caitlin Clark is completely out of control. Sheesh. ![]() Rising Stars rosters. I think I have Team Isiah over Team Glove in the championship game. Ant Man + Bane + Hali + Bey + Beef Stew? Sheesh. Isiah Thomas never drafted this well in the NBA. Dan Devine on CLEVert and the next chapter for the Cavaliers. Zach Kram investigates the NBA’s biggest in-season trading GM. Looking at Sylvia Fowles’ career as maybe the most dominant center in WNBA history. Nike is trying to destroy StockX’s NFT program. I’m not really sure how StockX thought they could do what they are doing? Dakota Schmidt breaks down Italian NBA prospect Matteo Spagnolo. Be excellent to each other. You’re a free subscriber to Good Morning It's Basketball. For the full experience, become a paid subscriber. |
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