The Philadelphia 76ers finally pulled the trigger on a James Harden trade. Now, the Sixers have decisions to make for now and the future. The 76ers sent the disgruntled Harden, P.J. Tucker, and rookie Filip Petrusev to the Los Angeles Clippers for Kenyon Martin Jr., Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington. The 76ers also received a 2026 first-round pick via Oklahoma City, the Clippers 2028 first-rounder, a pair of second-rounders (2024 and 2029), and the right to swap picks in 2029.
Further trade details: The Clippers are sending a 2027 first-round pick swap to Oklahoma City, clearing way for OKC to move a protected 2026 first-round pick to the 76ers, sources said. The Clippers are sending a 2024 and a 2029 second-round pick to the Sixers in the deal too,… https://t.co/IlIGoEa9Fm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
NBA Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers New Starting Lineup, Looking To Make 1 Or 2 More Trades
Additionally, Philadelphia will receive a $6.4 million trade exception and cut ties with Danny Green to make room for the new additions.
With the trade, the 76ers will have to roll out a new starting lineup, as Tucker had been a mainstay at power forward. The Sixers are off until Thursday, when they continue their six-game homestand against the Toronto Raptors. They will then entertain the Phoenix on Saturday and Washington on Monday.
76ers New Starting Lineup
According to Phillyvoice.com’s Evan Macy, Kelly Oubre Jr. is projected to enter the starting lineup. Oubre, who has been sensational off the bench for the Sixers through the first three games, expects to start at small forward. Thus bumping Tobias Harris to the four.
Now that Harden is out of the picture, Tyrese Maxey and De’anthony Melton will remain the Sixers’ starters in the backcourt, with Joel Embiid anchoring the middle. Maxey is listed as day-to-day as he suffered a hand injury in Sunday’s victory over Portland, though he told reporters after the game that he will be okay.
“When I fell on the ground, my funny bone and the whole side of my hand felt a little numb. I think I’ll be okay. Life goes on.”
If Oubre does enter the starting lineup, the Sixers will have a new sixth man and second unit. Covington and Martin will likely be the first two players off the bench, though it could be Patrick Beverley in rare cases. Regardless, those three players and Paul Reed make up the core of the second unit.
After those four, Nick Nurse will have a decision to make to finish his second unit. Nurse loves to play his stars’ heavy minutes. Therefore, who is the 10th man may depend on several factors. However, most likely, it will come down to Batum, Morris, or Jaden Springer. Batum has struggled in the early going this season, and Morris had been kept away from the team by the Clippers. That doesn’t mean that Morris won’t have a role with Philadelphia.
Nurse also could keep Oubre as the Sixers’ 6th man and insert Covington with the first unit at power forward. In that case, Harris would remain at the three.
Sixers Aren’t Done Wheeling and Dealing
While it may seem that Philadelphia got little value in the trade, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says that the trade sets the 76ers well enough to make one or two more deals before the NBA’s trade deadline.
Get up with @Espngreeny on the James Harden blockbuster pic.twitter.com/dIe4iFrZuO
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
Sam Amrick of The Athletic added that the picks the 76ers received in the deal are most important to them.
“As Morey sees it, his best chance at taking this Sixers team even closer to title contention is to round up all those draft assets and go searching for the sort of high-level player who can somehow replace the former MVP who just left town.”
Including the assets the 76ers received from the Clippers, the Sixers have six first-rounders, including their own, in 2024 that they can trade. The Sixers have six second-round selections, with three in 2024. They also have two trade exceptions totaling $9.2 million.
Furthermore, the trade gives the 76ers a lot more flexibility regarding the NBA salary cap as they project to have between $50-65 million in cap space next season, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
All the contracts the 76ers are receiving are expiring and do not impact their cap flexibility in 2024-25.
Philadelphia projects to have between $50-65M in room next season.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 31, 2023
Philadelphia could also flip the four players they received in the trade along with Furkan Korkmaz as part of any deal. Per NBA rules, the 76ers can trade each of the players they received from the Clippers individually immediately. However, they can’t combine those players’ salaries in a deal until December 31.
What Does Philadelphia Need
It is pretty safe to assume that the 76ers will make at least one more trade this year, as they need to add guard depth. But don’t expect a deal to happen immediately. According to Wojnarowski, the 76ers are expected to scour the trade market for another “high-level guard,”
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix recently tweeted that Zach LaVine and OG Anunoby are a couple of names that are expected to be bantered about,
Some of the early chatter on names to watch with Philadelphia: Zach LaVine and OG Anunoby. LaVine is the kind of scorer/ball handler the Sixers could use. Anunoby is the versatile defender Philly needs against Boston/MIL in the playoffs.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) October 31, 2023
LaVine is a high-volume scorer who doesn’t fit well with the 76ers. He is too similar of a player to Maxey and doesn’t defend.
Anunoby would definitely be a better fit. The 26-year-old wing is an excellent shooter who is a top-notch defender.
Donovan Mitchell, Marcus Smart, Dejounte Murray, and Trae Young make sense for the 76ers. But not sure any of those players will be available. Tyler Herro, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram are potentially other options,
