Former NBA Veteran Advises Against Sixers Making Major Trade
Although the James Harden saga wrapped up on the final day of October, three games into the 2023-2024 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers still have all eyes on them.
As the team’s President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey mentioned he wanted an All-Star caliber player in return for Harden, it became clear that multiple moves would need to be made in order for the Sixers to reach their final destination of the saga.
Step one is complete, as the Sixers landed four veteran role players and draft assets in return for James Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev. One might assume the Sixers are seeking out another blockbuster trade to land a veteran star to pair alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but former 76ers sharpshooter JJ Redick suggests the Sixers should look for a high-impact role player instead of an All-Star talent.
A Look at Redick’s Theory
There are two types of players that the Sixers have been linked to since they parted ways with Harden. Chicago Bulls forward Zach LaVine is the big fish that would land the Sixers into the “superteam” category as long as Tyrese Maxey continues hooping like an All-Star.
Then there’s the OG Anunoby/Alex Caruso tier — two players that aren’t in the All-Star conversation but are known to make a significant impact in their roles.
Redick likes the latter direction for the Sixers this time around.
“The interesting part about this hypothetical is the difference between out-of-season versus in-season. As it relates to my query, Caruso and OG, I think the awkwardness in that offensive hierarchy, it doesn’t happen,” Redick said. “They are plug and play. They are immediately sort of additive on the defensive end and the offensive end. Where I think, in-season, and we’ve seen this … I think the in-season trade, the in-season home run swing for the star player, it doesn’t always work. In fact, it rarely works because it’s hard in a six-week, eight-week span as you prepare for the playoffs to figure all of that out.”
The Sixers have taken their fair share of in-season swings, even during Redick’s time with the team. During the 2018-2019 season, the Sixers made two notable trades, picking up the All-Star Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, who was having a career year, which landed him a max contract the following summer.
The results? A second-round exit.
More recently, the Sixers acquired James Harden during the 2021-2022 NBA season. The ten-time All-Star appeared in 21 games before the playoff run. Again, another second-round exit was in store for Philadelphia.
While Harden received a full offseason with the Sixers the following year, the results weren’t any different, as they exited in round two once again.
It’s been two strikes for the Sixers. Perhaps they should take a swing at a different pitch.
“What we’ve seen so far from the Sixers, I’m just like, let’s just enjoy this team,” Redick finished. “They’re playing great basketball. To me, it’s more how do we add to what we already have instead of taking away and changing the offensive ceiling in theory and getting another star player. Whether it’s the trade deadline or whether it's the offseason, Philly has a lot of flexibility in terms of what they can go and get. I’m of the mind that a Caruso or OG on this roster makes more sense. That’s not a knock on Zach LaVine or Pascal Siakam. I want to be very clear on that.”
There is still plenty of basketball left to be played, but the Sixers are thriving with what they have. Prior to the trade, Philadelphia was 2-1. Since the deal went down, they haven’t lost. A win on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers made it eight straight.
Anything can happen between now and the trade deadline, but the Sixers surely have a lot to consider as they are in the midst of a critical year.
