The winners
Philadelphia Sixers
The Sixers looked set to spoil a stellar season for Joel Embiid. And the state of health of the Cameroonian is not a certainty, it would have been a shame not to do everything to surround him at best when he is at the top of his game. Finally, the franchise obtains an XXL counterpart for Ben Simmons – who flatly refused to play once more for Philadelphia – by getting his hands on James Harden.
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Although he is going through a difficult period, the All-Star guard remains one of the best players in the league. A scoring machine that complements Embiid to form a “one-two punch” duo like there is hardly any in the NBA. The icing on the cake, the Sixers managed to complete the deal without sacrificing their two main young talents, Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle. Even if they are not necessarily big favorites in the East, they now have the weapons to go all the way.
James Harden
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Harden came to strongly hope for a departure from Brooklyn but did not dare to ask for it formally for fear of the reaction of the public… in the end, he is doing well. The Sixers pulled him out of the Nets “quagmire” by offering him the chance to partner with another superstar while having even more of the ball in his hands. Now it’s up to him to prove he can lead a team to the title.
Daryl Morey
Successful bet for the architect of the Sixers. Two following his arrival in Philadelphia, he finds James Harden, whom he had already brought to Houston in 2012. Daryl Morey is especially the second superstar he absolutely wanted to round up in Pennsylvania. Rather than giving in to panic by bowing to Ben Simmons’ desire to leave last August, the leader has remained faithful to his guideline by stubbornly demanding another major player in exchange for the Australian . His demands might seem unrealistic. But in the end, it worked for him and for the franchise.
Ben Simmons
There probably can’t be a happier man than Ben Simmons since Thursday night in the NBA. The first pick of the 2016 Draft has been waiting for this moment for months. He didn’t want to play for the Sixers at all anymore. Even if it means taking fines – he lost 19 million dollars – and finding himself isolated and destabilized. A situation he got himself into. Here he is now free, free to be able to play basketball once more. And besides, it didn’t land in Sacramento or Indiana as it was expected. Here he is in Brooklyn, in a big market, to play the title with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Les Brooklyn Nets
The Nets dropped four draft picks and three others that the Rockets can swap in addition to Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen to recover James Harden last year. The idea was to build an absolutely unplayable “Big Three” with Durant and Irving. The three superstars have only played… 16 matches together, for 13 wins. How far might they have gone? So we will never know.
Durant, Harden et Irving : Le Big Three des Brooklyn Nets
Credit: Getty Images
Despite this, Brooklyn does not come out the loser of this exchange carried out in disaster in mid-season. On the contrary. The New Yorkers have rebalanced their workforce while providing depth. Simmons hasn’t played for several months but he was uninjured and should get back up to speed quickly. His game is atypical but it remains a true All-Star. An excellent selfless playmaker who is needed alongside Irving and Durant. An elite defender. A solid rebounder. A talented and versatile basketball player. It will be much better showcased in Brooklyn.
In addition, the Nets recover useful players like Seth Curry – another ideal complement for KD – and Andre Drummond, but also draft picks that they can trade for other assets during the offseason. The team lacked resources beyond its stars. This is no longer the case. And with Durant, Irving, Simmons, Curry, Drummond, Aldridge, Harris, Griffin, Thomas, Claxton and Mills backbone, there is now plenty to do.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics made some good adjustments on deadline night. Dennis Schröder, Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and Enes Freedom leave, replaced by the serious Derrick White and Daniel Theis – who returns to the fold. Point guard and center are great complements to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on paper. Material to help Boston ensure its qualification in the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns
Again, the reinforcements are subtle. The names of Torrey Craig and Aaron Holiday obviously do not arouse the same enthusiasm as Ben Simmons or James Harden, but they are two very diligent basketball players capable of imposing themselves in the rotation. They will limit themselves to their role and this is precisely one of the strengths of the Suns. They unearth two more complete players there, all while separating only from Jalen Smith, pivot helmed by Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo. Phoenix has a squad with no real weak spot from first to twelfth man. Solid.
Losers
Kevin Durant
A year ago, KD forced its management to seek out James Harden by parting ways with several talented players. It didn’t work at all. The worst part is that it was the bearded man himself who wanted to leave. A turnaround that says a lot regarding the leadership of Durant, who does not always know how to surround himself with the best. He’s the best player in the world. But it ultimately lacks a certain aura. Well, at least he has just picked up three players who might help him get a third ring.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving during the game between Brooklyn and Toronto, April 27, 2021
Credit: Getty Images
The other favorites in the East
The Bulls, the Cavaliers, even the Heat and the Bucks must necessarily take a dim view of the exchange between the Nets and the Sixers, especially if the two teams were to emerge victorious. Miami and Milwaukee can still largely claim victory in the East. But for Chicago and Cleveland, it gets complicated.
New York Knicks
Twelfth in the East, the Knicks are missing out on their season. Their recruitment during the last offseason did not bear fruit at all and it is perhaps time for New York to admit its casting error by reforging the contracts of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. None of them moved. Neither does Julius Randle – whose attitude is deteriorating week by week. The Knicks are still stuck with this imperfect squad and don’t make room for young people either. That’s a shame. In the end, Cam Reddish, their only rookie, is not used by Tom Thibodeau because the rotation is blocked.
Los Angeles Lakers
It seemed obvious that Russell Westbrook would not be transferred. But the Lakers might still hope to recover an interesting player by sacrificing Talen Horton-Tucker. Finally, nothing to get your teeth into. The status quo, pending the buyout market. Suddenly, Los Angeles still has the same dysfunctional and unbalanced team that does not aspire to much other than a qualification for the play-in…
Neither winners nor losers
Dallas et Washington
The Wizards got Kristaps Porzingis back by sending Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans to the Mavericks. Difficult to understand the strategy for the DC franchise and difficult to guess who really emerges victorious from this exchange. What we understand is that the Texas team wanted to turn the Porzingis page. The Latvian never really got along with Luka Doncic and he might no longer string together matches due to all his recurring injuries. Washington will bet on his health to try to hang the play-in this season and then try to convince Bradley Beal to stay at the fold this summer.
Porzingis Doncic
Credit: Eurosport
The Mavericks therefore move on by getting their hands on a Bertans who can evolve in exactly the same role, the fleeing interior who shoots at three-pointers, but probably without complaining. He still has to find his address. The other Latvian (and yes) has been completely out of address since he signed his big contract in 2020 (80 million over 5 years). Spencer Dinwiddie serves as insurance in case Jalen Brunson goes missing in the offseason. But that’s still two reinforcements likely to support Doncic, pending the possible signing of Goran Dragic.
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