It gained’t be exhausting to persuade Philadelphia 76ers followers that this model of the James Harden commerce was the very best they had been going to get. Between Daryl Morey’s insistence that he get a star in return, Harden’s insistence that he makes this as uncomfortable as potential, and the NBA’s insistence that it understands none of it, the rock was hurling towards planet Joel Embiid and nearing some extent of extinction.
Whereas this commerce may look like a mitigation and never an answer, I feel it’s the opposite means round. Earlier than the Beard arrived in Philly, when Ben Simmons was sulking in huge sweaters amid one other Morey commerce standoff, Embiid was taking part in at an MVP stage. Nikola Jokić would go on to win his second in a row, and the Philly star lastly acquired his trophy final yr, however I need to see that Embiid for a full season.
Throw in a reliable coach — Nick Nurse offers off passive Rick Carlisle vibes, however the honeymoon interval needs to be nice — a deep, dependable group of function guys, an applicable quantity of Tyrese Maxey, and Philly may make extra noise than we’re used to.
Robert Covington is again, Nic Batum offers flexibility, Kenyon Martin Jr. can provide you minutes(?), however most significantly the crew gained’t must discover ways to set up one other star. I do know single-superstar methods are rattling close to unattainable to win a title with, but huge males are completely different animals.
Jamal Murray was solely himself for 75 % of final playoffs, however Jokić was such a drive that it didn’t matter. Whereas Embiid might not be a passing savant, he’s at all times been unselfish, and ideally, he’ll be put in spots by Nurse, and never simply thrown on the canvas like Doc “Jackson Pollock” Rivers.
By three video games, Embiid is averaging seven assists. It’s a small pattern measurement, however his earlier excessive for a season is 4, and the ball ought to ping round a bit extra with out it stopping for a dribbling exhibition each third move. Will there be an excessive amount of Maxey and Kelly Oubre at occasions? Sure, however there’s one thing to be mentioned for a well-defined hierarchy (at the least so far as sports activities as involved).
Embiid is the straw that stirs a lot of the drinks, and that onus is his in perpetuity. There’s nowhere to cover, and no one in all which to defer. The offense is Joel, Joel, Maxey, and extra Joel. It’d simply be finest to present him the vast majority of the oxygen, and let the others scavenge for air.
Maxey has the official sidekick duties, and he’s run with the chance to the tune of 30, 6, and 6 on 56-56-91 taking pictures splits. Nonetheless, in contrast to in years previous, he’s the one who dictates how lengthy these numbers maintain up, and never some yet-to-be-defined function subsequent to a yet-to-be-named participant.
Philly would’ve needed to sacrifice depth (and perhaps Maxey) if it wished to get a star in return for Harden, who hasn’t been prepared or capable of play for some time. It was a matter of time earlier than the Sixers ran out of fascinating second guys to swap subsequent to Embiid (or, on this case, one in all them refuses to play ball).
The Clippers commerce won’t have been excellent, however the deal for Harden was lauded as such, and it nonetheless imploded, too. Typically you don’t at all times get what you need…
