Before the NBA trade deadline Harden and Simmons swap owners, before the two trade rumors spread the boiling, the Nets recently poor record, suffered ten consecutive losses, Harden three consecutive games because of hamstring injuries, Simmons played very badly in last year's playoffs, a single offensive means, free throw shooting rate of only a pitiful 34.2%, after last year's playoffs, Simmons broke with the 76ers, this season did not play, obviously both teams can not afford to wait, and finally reached a deal. In the deal, the 76ers sent Curry Jr. and Drummond together with the 2022 first-round picks and the 2027 first-round picks. According to the US media ESPN report, the Nets wanted to add the 19-year-20 show Sable to the deal, but the 76ers firmly disagreed, rejected their proposal, and finally got two more first-round picks. The 76ers also took a big risk by refusing to miss the deal by refusing to come out of Sable and not getting Harden. So how did Sebel, who averaged 5.9 points per game, become a non-seller?
The 22-year-old Sebel was drafted by the 76ers with the No. 20 pick at the draft in 2019, he is 1.96 meters tall, he is a forward swing man, as an older rookie his potential is limited, he has spent most of his career so far on the bench, averaging 4.7 points per game, this season is his career-high 5.9 points per game, shooting a career-high 50.5%, three-point shooting rate of 30.9%, just look at these data 76 people have no need to risk for him, But Sable's value is not in offense, but in excellent defensive ability.
Sable has the potential to become a good 3D player, his defensive ability is obvious to all, he is one of the strongest outside defenders in the league, and Sable, who was in the second year last season, was selected as the best defensive second team. Sebel wasn't as completely incapable of three-pointing as Simmons, who shot 35.7 percent from three-point range in his first season, but his three-point shooting percentage declined in the next two seasons, at 30.1 percent and 30.9 percent, respectively. The Suns' Bridges is one of the best 3D players of the season, shooting 37 percent from three-point range, and he could be a great 3D player if Sable's three-point shooting percentage can go back to his rookie season and add three-point shots appropriately.
Harden has also not been a good outside defender, Sebel stayed behind to help Harden defend the opponent's outside knife players, allowing Harden to retain more physical strength to score on the offensive end, hardened this season's poor form, has been plagued by hamstring injuries, this season he averaged 22.5 points per game, a new low after the Thunder career. Especially in the playoffs, his defense can be a big help to the team.
The Nets topped the Eastern Conference leaderboards at one point in the early part of the season, but after Durant was injured, they played very hard, Irving also refused to vaccinate and could only play away games, and the Nets have slipped to eighth in the East. However, Simmons has a strong ability to lead the team, and the ranking should continue to climb up after Durant returns, they are also potential opponents for the 76ers in the playoffs, if the 76ers trade Sebel to the Nets, it is likely to add trouble to their playoff journey, and Sable's defense will also make Harden play very badly. Sebel, who had just played his second season last season, delivered 5 blocks and 4 assists in a single game in the playoffs, making Beal and Westbrook uncomfortable. In the second game of the 76ers against the Warriors this season, he was responsible for defending Curry, who scored 6-of-20 and 3-of-14 three-pointers under his defense, as well as praise from Warriors coach Kerr.
For the 76ers, these two first-round picks are not worth much, as long as Embiid stays with the 76ers, their first-round pick picks will not be very high, and the first-round pick in 2027 is still the protection of the top eight picks, in case this first-round pick fails to give the Nets will be exchanged for two second rounds and add a part of cash, instead of sending a top outside defender to the opponent, it is better to let them draft and cultivate themselves, so as not to add difficulties to their outside players in the playoffs.
The key reason why the 76ers failed to beat the Hawks in the Game of Seven last season was Simmons' lack of autonomous offensive ability, and Harden's personal offensive ability is beyond doubt, both to make up for Seth Curry's offensive firepower, but also to help Embidra open up space, so that opponents do not dare to be unscrupulous to pack the emperor, so that he can play more easily, Harden's organizational ability is also stronger, and he can average the second most assists in the league this season. The Emperor also played MVP-level performances, averaging 29.3 points per game, the league's current leading scorer, and Embiid also said that he had communicated with Harden after the trade, and Harden may be the best teammate of his career. At present, the 76ers are sixth in the East with 33 wins and 22 losses, and it should be known that this is the result of the emperor's single-core team, and with Harden their record will be even higher.
Of course, the loss of Simmons also greatly reduced the 76ers' defensive ability on the outside, so they would rather lose two first-round picks than keep the outside defensive fighter Sable. The goal of the 76ers after trading Harden is to win the championship and win the championship in the NBA defense, which is also an important reason why the 76ers are unwilling to trade Sable.