Beijing time on February 11, the 2021-22 season NBA trade deadline officially arrived, in the reached a number of deals, the Nets and Philadelphia transaction has become the focus of attention, according to US media reports, the Nets sent Harden, Millsap, from Philadelphia in exchange for Simmons, Curry Jr., Drummond, 2022 first-round picks and 2027 first-round picks to protect the first round of signing.
Harden and Simmons completed the swap, and both left where they didn't want to be, from the perspective of the two players, each had their own place, but from the team's point of view, who lost the deal? Will the Nets and Philadelphia still have a chance to break out of the East?
Time back to the 2020-21 season, under durant's inspiration, Harden left the Rockets who had played for 8 years to go to the Nets, and Durant and Irving formed the most outstanding offensive talent in the history of the NBA Big Three, but in less than two seasons, the trio announced the complete end, becoming the shortest-lived big three in NBA history.
In the 393 days since the formation of the Big Three, Durant, Harden, and Irving have only played in 16 games together, and the playoffs have only won one round of the series, without a championship, and some have only dispersed.
For the Nets, the original trade from the Rockets to Harden ended in failure, but from the trade to Harden, to now send Harden, the Nets have lost not only time.
In the trade with the Rockets, the Nets paid 4 first-round picks and 4 swapped first-round picks, and also sent away their own cultivated Allen and LeVert, but in the deal with Philadelphia to send Harden, only in exchange for Simmons, Curry Jr., Drummond and two worthless first-round picks, in the process of Harden's one in and one out, the Nets lost not only the draft pick, but also the loss of player strength.
There are many reasons why Harden left the Nets, after The Bleacher Report reporter Jake Fischer had made a big deal, including: Harden's intention to seek other teams this summer, dissatisfaction with Irving becoming a "part-time" player, dissatisfaction with coach Nash's rotation, not enjoying life in Brooklyn, and being open to joining Philadelphia partner Embiid.
Although Harden has publicly opened the rumors, it seems that these news are undoubtedly accurate, but Irving is definitely the core reason for Harden's departure.
After last season's loss, Harden thought more about losing in injuries and luck, and Harden was still confident before the start of the season, but Irving refused to vaccinate, the team simply did not let Irving play any game, the result was that the team was injured due to fatigue, the Nets could only compromise with Irving, but then Durant suffered injuries again, part-time Irving completely disrupted the team's run-in, before Harden left the team, the Nets have suffered 9 consecutive losses, Irving's various decisions throughout the formation and dissolution of the Big Three.
In the all-star selection session earlier today, Durant, who is the captain of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, did not choose Harden, and it is appropriate to describe the three people as unhappy and scattered.
Originally, the Nets had a chance to get Philadelphia's Maxi or Sable in the transaction to send Harden away, but harden who ran out of patience was determined to leave the Nets, resulting in the Nets not wanting to lose more this summer and could only accept Philadelphia's offer, which was definitely a loss for the Nets.
So can the arrival of Simmons and others make up for the lack caused by Harden's departure? Analyzed from the paper lineup, Simmons is younger and healthier than Harden, and on the defensive end, Simmons can provide more help to the Nets, and before this season, Simmons has been in the best defensive lineup twice, and his ability to change defenses is what the Nets need.
On the offensive end, in games where Irving can't play, Simmons can return to his previous style of playing at Philadelphia and become the ball-carrying core. And in the game that Irving can play, is the main problem that the Nets need to consider, if Irving returns to the No. 1 position, Simmons play without the ball, then simmons shooting shortcomings will be infinitely magnified, it seems that the best way is to let Simmons play more of a role in blocking the demolition, more of a final offense, or let Simmons play the role of Harden.
But at present, considering Simmons' psychological problems, I don't know when to play, especially in the playoffs, Irving can't play, Simmons' shooting ability is insufficient, Durant will face greater defensive pressure, although the arrival of Curry Jr. can make up for Harris's position, Drummond can make up for the shortcomings of the interior, but simmons, Curry Jr., Drummond's limitations in the playoffs may be the key reason for hindering the Nets from going further.
Philadelphia is the one that benefited from the deal in the perception of most fans, Simmons has not played a single game this season, which is equivalent to using only Curry Jr. and Drummond to exchange for Harden, and the combination of Harden and Embiid has also made fans unlimited reverie.
But the premise still depends on Harden's health, Harden has missed the Nets' past three games because of a hamstring injury, and Harden's injury this time goes back to last season's Eastern Conference semifinals, if Harden can recover his health, Philadelphia is really the beneficiary of this deal.
And what Philadelphia has to do next is to balance the ball rights of Harden and Embiid, Harden has always been the way to play with the ball, and Embiid has also increased the proportion of personal ball holding this season, Harden's arrival is bound to reduce Embiid's ball rights, Harden and the team also need to re-run in, there are less than 30 games left in the regular season, and the run-in has become the key to whether Philadelphia can rush out of the East.
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