Harden is gone!
The Sixers' organization seems to have weathered a watershed decision concerning the franchise and their MVP, Joel Embiid. James Harden's choice to opt into his final year and seek a trade could be the best thing to happen to the Sixers since they traded Ben Simmons. Despite being down a player next season, the team has received a shot of optimism that might help fans forget the early playoff exits that have plagued the franchise since the A.I era.
Daryl Morey faces the tough task of finding a deal that keeps the Sixers competitive while also unloading a player whose prime is long past. Morey, known for acquiring Harden not once, but twice, now faces the challenge of trading away the star that propelled his meteoric NBA rise. If Morey can attract one particular player to Philadelphia without sacrificing Tyrese Maxey in a trade, he might just send the fans into a frenzy.
Dame Lillard, the undisputed prize of 2023, is now on the market for 29 NBA teams. After years of speculation, he has officially requested a trade. His price is at a record low, thanks to the stringent, financially punishing collective bargaining agreement ratified by the NBA and the player's union earlier this year. However, it's not all good news for the Sixers - reportedly, they're not on Dame's shortlist of preferred teams. Regardless, it seems unlikely that Morey will be deterred by Dame's initial reluctance. Convincing Dame to request a trade was a years-long process, so Morey is likely ready to pull out all the stops to persuade him that Philadelphia is the perfect fit. The question on every 76ers fan's mind is: Can Morey acquire a player of Dame's caliber without including Maxey in the trade? If Morey can land Lillard and retain Maxey, he will undoubtedly cement his status as a 76ers' legend in Philadelphia.
