ProcessDoctor wrote:76ciology wrote:I never considered getting Paul George for Harden. But listening to Morey, seems like he’s pushing to get PG and that’s holding the deal. At first it sounds absurd. But I think it deserves some consideration.
Then I look at the numbers, almost all advanced stats points to Harden being the better player than Paul George.
Harden also is a better fit than Paul George, who is redundant with Kawhi. Kawhi can play Biid’s role on offense for the Clips and operate at the elbow or at mid range.
Harden is a year older. But Paul George has bigger health problem than Harden.
Sixers get to be competitive in 2023-2024. And very likely to get a max cap space by 2024 offseason, with expectations of George opting out. PG also fits the hole at the SF position, while allowing Melton to start. All of which Morey mentioned.
Sixers
Maxey/Pat Beverly
Melton/House Jr.
Paul George/Nic Batum
Tobias Harris/Paul Reed
Embiid/Bamba
Clippers
Westbrook/Reggie Jackson/Hyland
Harden/Powell
Kawhi/Mann
PJ Tucker/Robert Covington
Zubac/Morris
If Clipps arent going to trade Paul George (powell+morris+roco), they’ll be more talented but i dont find their fit to be as good. There’s too many cooks in the kitchen and not a lot of movement in the offense.
Westbrook/Reggie Jackson
Harden/Hyland
Paul George/Mann
Kawhi/Batum
Zubac/PJ Tucker
I also think Sixers plan to add Tucker to the deal and thats why we added Pat Beverly.
By default you want to get the most value in a trade. But given Kawhi and Harden’s age and contract situation. You’d also want to prioritize fit because most superteams takes atleast a year to develop chemistry and I dont think Clips can afford that
I agree with you. George has been in the rumor mill all summer. The same can't be said about Kawhi. Even West has said how frustrating it is to have 2 stars that miss half of every season. They're due for a shake-up and this Harden situation gives them that out. Harden/Kawhi is objectively a better fit anyways, and as you mentioned, Harden was better than George last season (and pretty much every season ever?)
It's funny how the media manipulates player trade values. Like George and Kawhi are these untouchable wing gods, Lillard is Steph Curry on a bad franchise, but Harden is an old washed fat guy who only likes to party. Meanwhile, Harden has definitively done more than George and Lillard over his career.
Harden/Harris for George/Powell/Covington is the way for both teams...
Maxey/Melton/Beverley
Powell/Springer/Korkmaz
George/Tucker/House
Covington/Reed/Petrusev
Embiid/Bamba/Harrell
Harden/Westbrook/Preston
Mann/Bones/Boston
Kawhi/Martin/Coffey
Harris/Batum/Brown
Zubac/Plumlee/Morris
I also think teams should change their previous blueprint in building a championship team after the failure of the Nets, the success of the Heat and the Nuggets, and with the upcoming CBA.
Chemistry and depth are increasing in value. There’s less demand in having a big 3 because offense is so easy nowadays that in most cases the third guy in the big 3 is just an accessory. Who was the Celts’ third guy? Malcolm Brogdon? Hell, we were in a better place at one point with Melton on the court than Maxey.
I think wanting Harden, PG and Kawhi is vanilla analysis. For sure, who wouldnt want those 3 big names? That’s also what I thought. But if you think it through.. say in an offensive set, Harden plays 2 man game.. then Kawhi is the bail out option.. where does it leave PG? There’s too many cooks in the kitchen. Also take into consideration that toxic locker room clippers is reported to have with Kawhi, PG and Lue. And now you are adding Harden? With Westbrook? You also might want to have alot of depth with the health of those 3, which you will likely give up if you trade Powell, Mann, Roco and etc.
And lastly,
the time factor.
It’s better to trade PG for Harden now than to be able to trade for Harden by the trade deadline with a package of without PG. Because you wont have enough time to build chemistry. Think of how our team was in 2021-2022. By the playoffs we look lost by not knowing how to deal with things we’ve not yet seen before.
It’s key for the Clips to do the deal this offseason. Know what they lack. Then do another deal to adjust their team by the deadline.
And the worst is not doing the trade because that formula they have of double wing is proven to not work because of overlapping.
And for us, we can get a “norman powell + fillers” package by the deadline. Maybe trade Harden to the Celtics, Pelicans, Kings, Heat, Nuggets or Bucks and get some borderline star and picks in return.
I ask you? Can they get a better offer for Paul George and his one year contract than James Harden?
Not doing anything is also not so bad. We got a chance for a higher draft slot in next year’s draft.
We are in a position of power here. Clips better realize that their best move is to trade Paul George for Harden.
Game theory.
There’s never been a time in history when we look back and say that the people who were censoring free speech were the good guys.