The annual deal deadline is approaching, and we're all looking forward to some stories so that our favorite team can get a boost in strength and evolve into a championship-level team. We all look forward to the Lakers being able to introduce top 3D flanks to improve the team's offensive and defensive strength, and the Nets can properly handle the problems between Harden and the team, so that we can look forward to another fantastic showdown between James and Durant. But sometimes after all, the plan can not catch up with the change, regret is often the norm of life, and it is common to backfire.
The Lakers have not been able to replace a batch of high-quality 3D championship puzzles with Westbrook, and the record is still hovering in the playoff area, and its playoff qualification is still confusing. The Warriors did not use Wiseman to exchange some championship chips, but instead responded to the changes with the same, becoming a western powerhouse second only to the Suns. The Blazers still dismantled the two guns they had worked with for many years, sent CJ to the Pelicans and completely ceded the real power of the team to Lillard, in order to show great sincerity to their cousins.
What about the Nets, the league's other championship favorite? What is the progress of the "Harden trade" incident that has been so noisy earlier? Indeed, living up to the painstaking efforts of many fans to stay up late waiting for news, the professional ability of NBA celebrities had to be admired, bringing us the latest information about Harden's trade.
According to Woj, the 76ers reached a 5-for-2 deal, specifically: 76ers sent Ben Simmons, Curry Jr., Drummond, two first-round picks (protected in 2022, 2027), got Harden and Millsap.
At this point, Philadelphia finally dreamed of getting Harden, the top guard, and Harden also fulfilled his dream of joining embiid. Perhaps, as O'Neal said, Harden and Embiid will be the other major combination in the 21st century after the "OK combination", with the opportunity to create their own history.
What kind of impact will Harden and Embiid have on each other when they are combined? In fact, long before Harden joined the Nets, the Rockets management also took Philadelphia as an option for Harden to choose, probably out of affection for Durant, Harden still chose the Nets; but after less than two seasons, he found that the offensive and defensive pressure he faced in the Nets was no less than the Rockets period, coupled with Durant's injury truce and Irving's inability to be fully attended, Harden was still secretly detached.
In the Nets' first season, Harden played in 36 regular-season games for the team, averaging 24.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game. After Harden's healthy comeback this season, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and 8 rebounds per game, shooting only 33.2% from three-point range. From the data point of view, Harden's performance has declined, but this is also related to the Nets' team configuration. Therefore, joining forces with Embiid can solve the problem of Harden being wrapped up when he blocks, after all, Embiid's three-point shooting and passing ability can make opponents pay a price.
At the same time, Harden's presence can also share embiid's offensive pressure on the inside, allowing him to complete the scoring finish in a more relaxed way. It should be known that in the case of Simmons not playing, the 76ers can still maintain the record of fifth place in the East, and Harden's arrival is expected to make the team's strength instantly comparable to that of the Bucks.