I've brought you here, and I'm going to take you away! The best brother group in the NBA, Leonard became the happiest man
After nearly 4 months, Harden finally joined the Clippers. When 76ers coach Nurse saw Embiid (31 points per game in the new season) + Maxey (30 points per game in the new season) explode at the same time and lead the team forward, he hesitated on the issue of Harden. Embiid has a clear attitude, no matter whether Harden leaves or stays, solve it as soon as possible, and don't delay the championship. In the end, the 76ers compromised, did not want Mann, and used Harden + Tucker + Petrusheff to get Batum + Morris Jr. + Covington + Martin Jr. from the Clippers, a 28-year first-round pick + 2 second-round picks + 1 draft pick swap + a 26-year first-round pick from the Thunder. According to the report of the 76ers team reporter, the 76ers plan to use these chips to chase a star guard to assist Maxey and Embiid, which we can't control, but there are a few details, don't vomit and be unhappy!
Starting from one detail, salary expert Bobby Marcos reported that Harden has a $5.1 million trade margin, which should have been paid by the 76ers, but the 76ers gave Harden a problem before leaving: if you want to leave, give up the trade margin. Harden gave up! Based on the total chips provided by the two teams, the 76ers and the Clippers will not discuss the details of the trade, but Harden gave up the 15% trade margin in order to bring Tucker in order to match the chips that the 76ers demanded from the Clippers. Just 4 months ago, when the American media revealed that Harden wanted to go to the Clippers, the Philadelphia media reported that Tucker was interested in following Harden. Throughout the offseason, when Harden was criticized by the media, Tucker had no reason to be on Harden's side: I believe in my brother. And when Harden appeared on the 76ers' home court, only Tucker and Harden interacted, which was the best brother combination in the NBA!
Last summer, Tucker signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the 76ers, which happened after Harden jumped out of the $47 million player option, followed by a two-year $68 million contract with the 76ers ($32.4 million in the first year), although Harden never said that he took a significant salary cut for the joining of his brothers, but the 76ers' signing of Tucker, including the subsequent signing of House and Harrell, was saved from Harden's salary cut, and the 76ers did not even pay the luxury tax last season! Of course, Tucker was signed by the Heat in 22 years for $15 million (a player option for the second year) after winning the championship with the Bucks in 22, but only Harden's recruitment could allow Tucker to jump from the more competitive Heat in the playoffs to the 76ers.
The most impressive thing is the G4 of the 76ers and Celtics series last season, Embiid only floated outside to shoot in the first three quarters, and also snatched the ball from Harden, Tucker angrily scolded Embiid in the game: You are the MVP, you can't just shoot outside, you show your dominance, I will be by your side, otherwise we will lose! And in that game, in the end, Harden scored 42 points and led the team to beat the Celtics in overtime. As a veteran, Tucker certainly knows how to defend Embiid in front of the camera, protect the 76ers team, and give Embiid enough face, but he wants to win more! As Tucker said when the 76ers were out of the tournament last season: We have a problem, and with our performance, we are not worthy of the championship level! It can only be said that Tucker hates Embiid's "giant baby" attribute in the playoffs, and Harden actually has a chance to lead the team to the Eastern Conference finals!
Coming because of you, leaving because of you! Tucker and Harden established a deep friendship during the Rockets period, and during the Rockets period, Tucker was like Harden's little follower, training together, going to nightclubs together, going on vacation together, since they are leaving, then let's go together! Last season, Tucker averaged 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in the regular season, shooting 39.3% from three-point range, and 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs, with a three-point shooting rate of 35%. In the new lineup of the Clippers, Tucker's position is irreplaceable! Ideally, Harden may partner with Wei Shao in the backcourt, and in the transition section, Tucker can go to the No. 4 position, averaging 20-25 minutes per game, in other words, Xiaoka and George, no more than 25 minutes per game to the No. 4 position.
Tucker can play the role of 5 in a small lineup, with absolute power to fight; Second, when one of George and Leonard is resting, there must be a blue-collar worker around him to do the dirty work and play the sweeping and distraction work, and Tucker is the best candidate. The most important thing is that Tucker, Wei Shao, and Harden played together during the Rockets period, they are familiar with each other and cooperate tacitly, with a small lineup combination, Harden's defense can also go to the No. 4 position, and in the long regular season, George and Leonard avoided all possible injury risks! Harden's role is to let Leonard and George receive the ball in the most comfortable position and finish the score in the easiest way. Tucker's role is to allow Leonard and George to unload half of the burden on the defensive end and reduce the cost of confrontation in the regular season. And the Clippers bench also has Hyland, Mann, and Powell scoring points.
Leonard is the happiest man in the league. In the previous 4 years, Ballmer invested regardless of the cost, and Leonard led the team to nothing, but since the trade got Harden + Tucker, the Clippers have completely given up the future and focused on the present. Leonard needs someone to lead the team to the lower limit guarantee, to give you Harden; The defensive end needs to take the pressure off and give you Tucker; Coupled with George as a stable partner by his side, as well as the maturing Wei Shao, and a group of bench bandits, it is really impossible to say if Leonard can't lead the team to win the championship this season.