*** -- PROCESSING Your Philadelphia 76ers -- ***

The Juggler

Poncier

That's "sausage king of Chicago"

Jearlpam0925

Get the feeling they get sssssmmmoked tonight.

The Juggler

Jearlpam0925 said:

Get the feeling they get sssssmmmoked tonight.

At least we get them on the back end of a back to back. 

The Juggler

Would think Dame would finally want to move on now...

The Juggler

https://theathletic.com/3118759/2022/02/08/amick-what-im-hearing-on-possibility-of-a-james-harden-ben-simmons-trade-between-the-nets-and-sixers/

But in terms of the threat posed by the Sixers this summer, the prospect of them signing Harden outright is even more real than most likely realize. And the plan, sources say, would look like this …

Step 1: The Sixers trade Simmons and the three seasons remaining on his deal ($108.8 million combined) to a team with cap room in exchange for assets in return. Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio already have the space, and teams such as Memphis or the Rockets (who could waive and stretch John Wall) could get there fairly easily. As we reported back in December, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is known to have interest in playing with Simmons.

Step 2: Find a new home for Tobias Harris’ contract via trade, which would be challenging but likely not impossible. He’s owed a combined $79.4 million over the next two seasons. The Sixers could theoretically waive and stretch Harris as well (per our cap expert, Danny Leroux, that move would open up approximately $22.3 million in space).

Step 3: Sign Harden for either the max (starting salary of $42 million) or something close to it. And for anyone who’s hung up on the fact that the Sixers might struggle to get to Harden’s max number, consider this much: At this later stage of Harden’s career, he has made it abundantly clear that his focus is on the goal of winning a title. The belief in Philadelphia, sources say, is that he wouldn’t let $10 million or $20 million (over the life of a deal) be a deal-breaker if he wanted to play for the Sixers.

So, why am I laying all of this out now? Because of the pressure that comes with the deadline of course. On both sides.

While the Sixers have made it clear for quite some time now that they’re willing to wait until this summer to pursue Harden, it would certainly be preferable to pair him with big man Joel Embiid when the Sixers’ center is in the midst of a historic, MVP-caliber run heading into the playoffs. What’s more, sources say that two of the Sixers’ other short-list targets — Lillard and Washington’s Bradley Beal — remain out of reach. Both the Trail Blazers and Wizards have recently indicated that they’re not willing to discuss their stars with the Sixers.

For the Nets, there has to be some serious concern about the situation spiraling in the next couple of months. We saw in those later stages of his Rockets life what he looks like when all is not well, and it’s … um … not pretty.

Might that compel Marks to rethink the prospect of pairing Kevin Durant and Irving with Simmons and boasting a roster that would widely be considered title-contender worthy (again)? He has 48 hours left to decide.

eeriepadave

The Juggler said:

Jearlpam0925 said:

Get the feeling they get sssssmmmoked tonight.

At least we get them on the back end of a back to back. 

not sure about smoked, i think it'll be close. Could win, it is a home game.

The Juggler

Buckle up, buttercups...

RiotZact

The Juggler said:

Buckle up, buttercups...

Woj just countered everything by saying there are no talks whatsoever. We can play mental gymnastics all we want about how all of these other no names have more intel than Woj, but we’d be lying to ourselves. 

Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. 

The Juggler

RiotZact said:

The Juggler said:

Buckle up, buttercups...

Woj just countered everything by saying there are no talks whatsoever. We can play mental gymnastics all we want about how all of these other no names have more intel than Woj, but we’d be lying to ourselves. 

Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. 

Well I can tell you that a press release by the Sixers was drawn up earlier today. Or at least the headline was. So someone over there believes/believed (?) a deal is there if they want it. 

Jearlpam0925

Question for you all - what's the type of deal that makes you feel like it's a good deal for you, something you can live with? Furthermore, what's the type of deal that makes your stomach turn?

The Juggler

I think...

Stomach turn would definitely be anything including Maxey and Thybulle. 

Great deal would be doing this without including either Maxey or Thybulle.

Can live with a deal that includes Thybulle but keeps Maxey. As much as I love Thybulle's defense, the fact that he still has not developed a consistent 3pt shot makes him expendable for a superstar like Harden.

RiotZact

Curry’s name has come up a lot in these reports too. I have a hard time deciding between Curry and Thybulle if I had to pick. 

Curry is a sniper but also is one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Everyone talks about how well he played in the playoffs without mentioning that Huerter fucking torched us because Seth was guarding him.

Thybulle is obviously a special player on D, but his offense creates problems for Joel.

Maxey is pretty much untouchable and the reports are backing that up. 

Jearlpam0925

Yeah I wouldn't be able to live with any deal including Maxey. Thybulle would be tough to swallow but if it gets the deal done then book it. Curry the same. Anything beyond that screams of desperation.

I guess I just see that you're basically paying for Harden as a rental until June at this point, with the bonus of having space to extend. And that doesn't seem worth giving up anything beyond Ben and Matisse for me.

Jearlpam0925

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/1491594037924544513?t=X860Z0e7VDmaclDfRiUP7Q&s=19

I just want Ben to be on the Nets because it would be the fucking best.

Cliffy6745

I’d pay for Thybulle’s Uber to Brooklyn. Nice player and all but it’s harden and you have a shot at a championship 

Jearlpam0925

Woj confirming. Haha.....COME ON

The Juggler

I hope all seat belts have remained fastened. Turbulence still ahead. 


HANG ON STEVE, WE'RE COMIN' IN FOR A LANDING

Poncier

SVRDhand13

Nets fan here… I hope the trade happens. Harden looks lost after his injury in the Bucks series.