With the trade deadline for the season approaching, the Nets and 76ers reportedly made an earthquake-level deal that has long been expected for fans on both sides. In the deal, the Nets sent Harden and Millsap, one of the Big Three, to Simmons, Curry Jr., Drummond, one of the 76ers' duo, and two future first-round picks for 2022 and protected first-round picks for 2022.
For the Nets, the reason why they chose to trade Harden came from the following points. On the one hand, Harden's form in the team this season is very sluggish, so far, Harden has only been able to get 22.5 points, 8 rebounds and 10.2 assists, shooting only 41.4% from the field, shooting only 33.2% from three-point range, and averaging points per game and two-point shooting rate have set new lows since leaving the Thunder. On the other hand, with Irving only playing in away games and Durant injured, the Nets' current record is very bad, having suffered four straight losses and falling to eighth place in the East. Therefore, they urgently need to make changes, otherwise it will be difficult for the team to impact the championship.
For the 76ers, simmons and the team have had irreconcilable contradictions since they were unexpectedly eliminated in the playoffs last season. In the offseason, Simmons was caught up in various trading rumors, and he refused to play for the 76ers after the start of the new season, even if he returned to the team to participate in training, he also had conflicts with coaches and teammates. So far, Simmons hasn't played a single game this season. In this case, the 76ers currently have only a fifth-place record in the East, and for those who aspire to win the championship, trading Simmons in exchange for another All-Star player is the best choice.
In fact, the deal between the two sides has been negotiated for a long time. As early as the offseason, the 76ers said that they very much hoped to get Harden, but the Nets at that time still believed that Harden could lead the team to the championship, so they rejected the related deal with the 76ers. Before the deal, the two sides also had a long negotiation, and the main reason why the deal was delayed was that the 76ers were unwilling to pay young player Maxi in this deal. As the trade deadline approached, the Nets finally made concessions, and in return they got Curry Jr. and the first-round pick, and the 76ers got the coveted Harden.
From the current point of view, this shock alliance transaction can be called a transaction for both sides to take what they need. For the Nets, after the deal, they formed a horror lineup of Irving + Simmons + Curry Jr. + Durant + Drummond/Aldridge. On the offensive end, Simmons can be the new organizer of the team, and he is young and strong, perfectly meeting the Nets' requirements for speeding up the lineup. With Durant and Irving's top scorers, the Nets won't need to worry about Simmons' limitations on offensive space, not to mention they've got Curry Jr., one of the league's top scorers right now.
So far, Curry Jr. can average 15 points per game, shooting 48.5% from the field and 40% from three-point range, and his arrival has provided the Nets' outside line with strong firepower and can also be a good choice for the team in key moments. On the defensive end, Simmons' ability is needless to say, and his defensive ability from the number one to the fifth position will benefit the Nets immensely. All in all, despite a ten-game losing streak so far, they will still be one of the most powerful forces in the East after the deal and Durant's comeback. In addition to this season, the two first-round picks they got from the deal also gave them hope for the future.
For the 76ers, despite losing the team's best scorer, they were able to get rid of the burden of Simmons, after all, his reluctance to play this season has largely affected the team's strength and team atmosphere. More crucially, the deal gave them the long-awaited Harden, who, despite a big drop in harden this season, remains one of the best backcourt players in the league, with embiid forming an inside and outside combination that terrifies all opponents.
On the offense, Harden can bring a lot of reinforcement to the 76ers' outside scoring, and they will also have a real organizer. In the games so far this season, the 76ers have needed Embiid to organize the offense a lot of the time, which has led to Embiid being unable to play a role on the inside line at many times. In addition, harden will be one of the best options for the team at key moments, after all, last season, the 76ers were eliminated due to the lack of outside ball-holding scoring points. And when organizing offense, Harden can create very good offensive opportunities for the likes of Harris on the outside and Embiid on the inside. All in all, such a lineup is enough to look forward to.
For harden and Simmons, the two protagonists involved in the deal, this may be the best ending. On the one hand, Harden is currently playing very uncomfortably with the Nets, and harden has not been able to exert his maximum power in the case of the team's multiple ball-handling scorers and the lack of interior line. At present, after becoming a partner with Embiid, Harden can get a good chance to prove himself, and he himself has expressed his desire to be traded to the 76ers. On the other hand, Simmons will be psychologically relieved, and he will get the role that suits him best in the Nets, without worrying about his lack of outside shooting ability.
Although the deal will be a good choice for both teams and the players involved, after the deal actually happened, a lot of things still made fans feel sorry and sigh. First, the Nets' Big Three have actually played only 16 games since they got together early last season, and last season's playoffs failed to lead the team to a championship due to injuries. If they could get more run-in time, maybe the results would be very different. Secondly, the duo of Simmons and Embiid once made the 76ers fans full of expectations, but the two have never been able to lead the team to better results.
In any case, the current trade is completed, everything is settled, this is the best home for Harden and Simmons, and the Nets and 76ers will also form a new lineup to attack the championship. After the deal, both teams will be the league's favorite teams to win the championship.