David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Orlando Magic receives: James Harden
The Philadelphia 76ers receive: Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Cole Anthony and a 2025 first-round pick (top five protected, via DEN)
The Sixers continue to think they can land a fortune for Harden. According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia InvestigatorPhiladelphia’s latest request to Los Angeles is a “deal that would center around Clippers guard Terance Mann and first-round picks.”
That seems ambitious considering Harden’s age, declining production and expiring salary. The Sixers, Pompey noted, “will continue to explore all options related to the Harden trade request while other teams continue to monitor the situation.”
It feels like Philadelphia is doing what it can to boost Harden’s market, but there hasn’t been much action beyond the Los Angeles talks. That could leave the door open for a team like Orlando — perhaps coveting a star to get a better sense of the quality of its young core — to put in a legitimate (not overwhelming) offer and see if Philadelphia would bite.
The Magic aren’t in a position to pay a fortune for someone like Harden, but a deep shot like this might be justifiable. They didn’t make things easy for young stalwarts Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner last season, as they were in the bottom third of teams in three-pointers scored (10.8 per game, 25th), three-point percentage ( 34.6, 24th) and an average. assists (23.2, 26th).
Harden’s skillset isn’t as deep as before, but he still covers all three of these areas with ease. Last season, he averaged 2.8 triples with a 38.5 percent splash rate and a season-high 10.7 assists. Not only could he take the defensive heat out of Banchero and Wagner, but Harden could also better position them for success.
And Orlando may not even care that Harden has an expiring contract, because if everything goes according to plan, he’ll want to hand the offensive keys to No. 6 pick Anthony Black at some point anyway.
Philly might be the toughest sell here, as the Sixers wouldn’t acquire a Star or get enough assets to trade one. But then again, Harden might not attract this type of offer again.
What Philly would get is three rotation-caliber players — all under the age of 30 — and a first-round pick. Sixers fans who only remember Fultz’s struggles after the franchise took him No. 1 overall in 2017 should note that he has since become a two-way playmaker (although he remains without external fire). Harris is one of the best three-and-D guards in the game. Anthony is a quick scorer who could bolster the bench’s ability to generate instant offense.
These aren’t difference-making factors, but each could take on a rotation role, and Harris and Fultz could compete for a starting spot in a Harden-less backcourt. Fultz and Anthony, meanwhile, still have enough theoretical upside that they could sweeten the offer in a different deal if Philly preferred to go that route.
Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @ZachBuckleyNBA.
