RealGM

A few stats on James Harden in Philadelphia:

-Harden is shooting just 40.4% from the field in his 16 games with the 76ers.
That 40.4 % figure ranks 169th out of 198 players who’ve taken at least 100 shots since Feb. 25

-Harden is 32-for-101 from 3 since joining the 76ers for 31.1% That ranks 44th out of 48 players who’ve attempted at least 100 3's since Feb. 2

-From 3-point range, Harden was 4-for-19 in the fourth quarter in 13 games in March. That’s 21.1%

-49 turnovers in 15 games: He’s the only player in the NBA who’s averaging at least 3.2 turnovers per game and shooting below 42 % during that span.

I 100% think Philadelphia would of been better taking something like CJ + 2 FRP for Simmons and keeping Drummond and Curry.

Especially if you count that they could of done this trade 3 months earlier and be clear top of the East right now instead of 4th and you force yourself to sign Harden to the max next year.

Where does that leave you when it's time to play defense? It's not like Ant or Seth Curr aint gonna get hunted like wild bucs come playoff time. James, when engaged, can hold up better on that end of the floor. And I'm sure you already know that if (when really) James regresses? Progresses? Reverts? Returns? back to his mean averages, he fittna be a terror. Neither Curry nor little Ant can give you that.

the upside is just higher for Harden than the other options.

there is a reason why joel wanted beal over harden. harden never fit the timeline it was a forced move to win now.
the only option left for sixers is trade harden for someone 5 yrs younger. morey is probably in shock he doesnt want to resign harden if he had a choice. I would look at someone like fox or mitchell to be the long term replacement. it is questionable if teams want harden.

In the East I'd rather have a win now star cause you never know when the next superteam will form but man is Harden the least reliable MVP type to rely on in the playoffs. He's too focused on one of the most volatile aspects of basketball besides the 3pt shot: foul calls.

Statlanta wrote:In the East I'd rather have a win now star cause you never know when the next superteam will form but man is Harden the least reliable MVP type to rely on in the playoffs. He's too focused on one of the most volatile aspects of basketball besides the 3pt shot: foul calls.

Let's be honest Harden is semi washed.

Those 35 points season averages, MVP Harden is gone.

He is Westbrook from 2 years ago and Phili gonna max his washed ass.

Paying him 60 mil/year at 36 baby.

The Sixers will be fine. In the offseason they will fill the holes that they created with the Simmons trade. When the Sixers run a unit of Harden, Milton, Niang, Korkmaz and Jordan they give up whatever gains they had with the first unit. A backup big and athletic wing and they're in business.

They mismanaged Simmons in general, from being too way easy on him to throwing him under the bus, Harden was just getting the best out of a bad situation, his next contract will be interesting though.

They had no leverage and no other options. They got the best deal they could

Snotbubbles wrote:The Sixers will be fine. In the offseason they will fill the holes that they created with the Simmons trade. When the Sixers run a unit of Harden, Milton, Niang, Korkmaz and Jordan they give up whatever gains they had with the first unit. A backup big and athletic wing and they're in business.

He is Westbrook from 2 years ago and Phili gonna max his washed ass.

Paying him 60 mil/year at 36 baby.

Sixers had Haliburton + onboard, until Morey and Harden took one last shot at the Nets FO. Got to say, those first 3 games Harden looked tremendous. That’s still got to be his ceiling. But will his hammy and quad ever hold up with enough R&R?

Morey has a hard-on for Harden and his legacy is completely tied to Harden and he will go down with Harden. If the Sixers could've actually gotten Haliburton they should have 100% taken it

kobe tier wrote:

Statlanta wrote:In the East I'd rather have a win now star cause you never know when the next superteam will form but man is Harden the least reliable MVP type to rely on in the playoffs. He's too focused on one of the most volatile aspects of basketball besides the 3pt shot: foul calls.

Let's be honest Harden is semi washed.

Those 35 points season averages, MVP Harden is gone.

He is Westbrook from 2 years ago and Phili gonna max his washed ass.

Paying him 60 mil/year at 36 baby.

It feels this thread was started in bad faith. You are not really asking a question, are you?

Two engaged you in good faith and both responded with “Paying him 60 mil a year at 36 baby”.

If you really wanted to seek contrasting opinions, you would have easily looked at the other half dozen threads started in the same topic in the last month.

Not worth engaging with you on this because this thread is clearly agenda-driven.

LordCovington33 wrote:

kobe tier wrote:

Statlanta wrote:In the East I'd rather have a win now star cause you never know when the next superteam will form but man is Harden the least reliable MVP type to rely on in the playoffs. He's too focused on one of the most volatile aspects of basketball besides the 3pt shot: foul calls.

Let's be honest Harden is semi washed.

Those 35 points season averages, MVP Harden is gone.

He is Westbrook from 2 years ago and Phili gonna max his washed ass.

Paying him 60 mil/year at 36 baby.

It feels this thread was started in bad faith. You are not really asking a question, are you?

Two engaged you in good faith and both responded with “Paying him 60 mil a year at 36 baby”.

If you really wanted to seek contrasting opinions, you would have easily looked at the other half dozen threads started in the same topic in the last month.

Not worth engaging with you on this because this thread is clearly agenda-driven.

I think the question is if the 76ers should max him this off season.

Sorry if my joke/humour put you off, I suppose I'm trying to say it in an entertaining way.

I'm of the opinion to max him is a big mistake and I don't hear any good arguments yet that it isn't.

This saga is far from over. It's only going to get better

Watch what happens in the playoffs, and the off-season

Plenty more drama yet to come. Get your popcorns ready

Philly is 12-6 with him playing. A 55-win pace is damn good, especially considering it was a mid-season trade and he hadn't played with the team at all before coming over.

Only citing FG% and 3P% is dishonest because you know how much of his game is getting to the line. His TS% with Philly of 61.2% is above his career average.

CoP wrote:Philly is 12-6 with him playing. A 55-win pace is damn good, especially considering it was a mid-season trade and he hadn't played with the team at all before coming over.

Only citing FG% and 3P% is dishonest because you know how much of his game is getting to the line. His TS% with Philly of 61.2% is above his career average.

He has been a disappointment besides his first 3 games.

I don't see how you can use foul baiting as a defense. He is at the mercy of these refs.

What happens in the playoffs?
What happens when he doesn't get superstar calls anymore?

kobe tier wrote:

CoP wrote:Philly is 12-6 with him playing. A 55-win pace is damn good, especially considering it was a mid-season trade and he hadn't played with the team at all before coming over.

Only citing FG% and 3P% is dishonest because you know how much of his game is getting to the line. His TS% with Philly of 61.2% is above his career average.

He has been a disappointment besides his first 3 games.

I don't see how you can use foul baiting as a defense. He is at the mercy of these refs.

What happens in the playoffs?
What happens when he doesn't get superstar calls anymore?

Got the feeling you made a topic with a question in the title, but only willing to accept 1 answer and that's yours.

Your last 2 questions, we'll see. Play-offs are in 2 weeks. Ok?

Wilfried wrote:

kobe tier wrote:

CoP wrote:Philly is 12-6 with him playing. A 55-win pace is damn good, especially considering it was a mid-season trade and he hadn't played with the team at all before coming over.

Only citing FG% and 3P% is dishonest because you know how much of his game is getting to the line. His TS% with Philly of 61.2% is above his career average.

He has been a disappointment besides his first 3 games.

I don't see how you can use foul baiting as a defense. He is at the mercy of these refs.

What happens in the playoffs?
What happens when he doesn't get superstar calls anymore?

Got the feeling you made a topic with a question in the title, but only willing to accept 1 answer and that's yours.

Your last 2 questions, we'll see. Play-offs are in 2 weeks. Ok?

We agree he needs free throws to function and that
These tend to try up in the playoffs.

Embiid is good, a team with Embiid and Harden can win 55 games.

I asked the question more to see when people thought of CJ or Haliburton instead and keeping some of their depth.
Would they be better?
worse?

kobe tier wrote:

Wilfried wrote:

kobe tier wrote:
He has been a disappointment besides his first 3 games.

I don't see how you can use foul baiting as a defense. He is at the mercy of these refs.

What happens in the playoffs?
What happens when he doesn't get superstar calls anymore?

Got the feeling you made a topic with a question in the title, but only willing to accept 1 answer and that's yours.

Your last 2 questions, we'll see. Play-offs are in 2 weeks. Ok?

We agree he needs free throws to function and that
These tend to try up in the playoffs.

Embiid is good, a team with Embiid and Harden can win 55 games.

I asked the question more to see when people thought of CJ or Haliburton instead and keeping some of their depth.
Would they be better?
worse?

Free throws (and attracting fouls) is a vital part of the game.
Atm, he's averaging 0,8 FTA less in the play-offs than during RS.

And to answer your question, no, I really do not see a lot of people thinking we would be better off with CJ or Haliburton than with Harden. And they wouldn't be better.

He maybe isn't the player anymore than he was a couple of seasons ago, but if he can get himself into shape for next season, I still think the Sixers could make a run (together with an improved Maxey and maybe a better fit than Tobias Harris).

Wilfried wrote:

kobe tier wrote:

Wilfried wrote:
Got the feeling you made a topic with a question in the title, but only willing to accept 1 answer and that's yours.

Your last 2 questions, we'll see. Play-offs are in 2 weeks. Ok?

We agree he needs free throws to function and that
These tend to try up in the playoffs.

Embiid is good, a team with Embiid and Harden can win 55 games.

I asked the question more to see when people thought of CJ or Haliburton instead and keeping some of their depth.
Would they be better?
worse?

Free throws (and attracting fouls) is a vital part of the game.
Atm, he's averaging 0,8 FTA less in the play-offs than during RS.

And to answer your question, no, I really do not see a lot of people thinking we would be better off with CJ or Haliburton than with Harden. And they wouldn't be better.

He maybe isn't the player anymore than he was a couple of seasons ago, but if he can get himself into shape for next season, I still think the Sixers could make a run (together with an improved Maxey and maybe a better fit than Tobias Harris).

Exactly. They are incomplete right now. In the offseason, Morey will fill out the holes.