Harden traded to Nets

[wdleehi]

So it seems like the next star to find a new home should be Beal.
I am seeing a nightmare scenario in which Morey trades for him.
I can see Philly giving up 3 picks and 4 swaps too... they can also add Maxey, Thybuile and Milton and thus keep Simmons.

I don't see that happening.  Philly is not loaded around older players.   There is less upside to the later picks and there is no point to pick swaps.

[NKY fan]

So it seems like the next star to find a new home should be Beal.
I am seeing a nightmare scenario in which Morey trades for him.
I can see Philly giving up 3 picks and 4 swaps too... they can also add Maxey, Thybuile and Milton and thus keep Simmons.

I don't see that happening.  Philly is not loaded around older players.   There is less upside to the later picks and there is no point to pick swaps.

They are pressured because time is ticking on Embiids prime (which is shorter than any other superstar). Also Simmons will be a goner in 5 years. The picks and swaps are just that but given the precedents in the last couple seasons big number of picks and swaps seems to be a given when you trade for an established all star.
The reason I’m pointing this out is that Danny would never trade 4 picks and 4 swaps for anyone but it seems like other GMs are comfortable enough with such prices.

[mahcus smaht]

They've got to be favorites to come out of the East, if not title favorites now.

If Irving is locked in come playoff time they will be [dang] near impossible to guard. Can they figure out how to defend becomes the big question. But they are reasonably deep even as-is.

[wdleehi]

So it seems like the next star to find a new home should be Beal.
I am seeing a nightmare scenario in which Morey trades for him.
I can see Philly giving up 3 picks and 4 swaps too... they can also add Maxey, Thybuile and Milton and thus keep Simmons.

I don't see that happening.  Philly is not loaded around older players.   There is less upside to the later picks and there is no point to pick swaps.

They are pressured because time is ticking on Embiids prime (which is shorter than any other superstar). Also Simmons will be a goner in 5 years. The picks and swaps are just that but given the precedents in the last couple seasons big number of picks and swaps seems to be a given when you trade for an established all star.
The reason I’m pointing this out is that Danny would never trade 4 picks and 4 swaps for anyone but it seems like other GMs are comfortable enough with such prices.

No, I mean DC would not take that trade.   There will be better offers with better upside then that offer.   Take Golden State with Wiseman and the T-wolves first round pick.  The Thunder with it's war chest.   Or now even the Rockets.   

[Darth_Yoda]

I think Houston made out great here.

Depending on how much money ownership wants to save perhaps Dipo could be had for the TPE plus youth.

But if Houston stands pat they have a nice looking starting lineup.

Wall
Dipo
Gordon
Wood
Allen

Although if I was a betting man I would assume that more changes are coming for houston.

[ChillyWilly]

Rumor has it Houston wanted no part of Kyrie and that Ben Simmons was offered by the 6ers.

4 picks > Ben Simmons?

[Birdman]

I think Houston made out great here.

Depending on how much money ownership wants to save perhaps Dipo could be had for the TPE plus youth.

But if Houston stands pat they have a nice looking starting lineup.

Wall
Dipo
Gordon
Wood
Allen

Although if I was a betting man I would assume that more changes are coming for houston.

Allen went to Cleveland

[Donoghus]

Rumor has it Houston wanted no part of Kyrie and that Ben Simmons was offered by the 6ers.

4 picks > Ben Simmons?

I think Philly dodged a bullet here whether they realized it or not.

[wdleehi]

Rumor has it Houston wanted no part of Kyrie and that Ben Simmons was offered by the 6ers.

4 picks > Ben Simmons?

Maybe they are betting on the Irving/Harden chemistry spill.

Plus they control 7 of the Nets picks if they implode.

[Darth_Yoda]

I think Houston made out great here.

Depending on how much money ownership wants to save perhaps Dipo could be had for the TPE plus youth.

But if Houston stands pat they have a nice looking starting lineup.

Wall
Dipo
Gordon
Wood
Allen

Although if I was a betting man I would assume that more changes are coming for houston.

Allen went to Cleveland

Oh, my bad. Was a big trade. but cleveland got another center, that must make them happy.

[Tr1boy]

So next time a player wants to be traded

Eat twinkies for a few weeks. Play like crap?

Watch Harden get into good shape in a few weeks

Boy is he a whiner

[Moranis]

Rumor has it Houston wanted no part of Kyrie and that Ben Simmons was offered by the 6ers.

4 picks > Ben Simmons?

Maybe they are betting on the Irving/Harden chemistry spill.

Plus they control 7 of the Nets picks if they implode.

Lowe went into pretty good detail about why Houston probably preferred that package as opposed to Simmons.

Part of the Lowe article

That draft equity is a strong return for the Rockets. Is it stronger than Ben Simmons by himself? To be clear, I don't know precisely what the Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers discussed, what the Sixers offered, or whether they even made an ironclad offer in the end. Reconstructing trade talks in the moment is maddening. Maybe one team, or both, got too cute haggling over whatever young players and/or draft picks Philadelphia might attach to Simmons. I feel confident saying this: The Rockets could have had Ben Simmons if they wanted him. They apparently decided they preferred the mother lode of picks from Brooklyn. Maybe they got greedy in negotiations with Philly.

Time will tell if they were right. Simmons is a great player coming off an All-NBA and All-Defensive season. He is 24, and he provides an identity upon walking in the door: Run like hell and put shooters around him.

Building a good version of such a team would have taken Houston years. And even if you construct one, it's unclear if Simmons can ascend into being the best player on a title team. I'm dubious, though the designation is more fluid than people would like. Few conceived of Jimmy Butler as being in that circle, but the Miami Heat came within two wins of a title despite multiple injuries in the NBA Finals.

The Rockets decided they'd rather (basically) start over. You need picks to do that, and the Rockets had flung away two -- plus two swaps -- in the disastrous Chris Paul-for-Russell Westbrook deal. They get more back here. They are shorting the Nets' future, wagering on a train wreck. Can you blame them given the train's current status?

Of course, trading Simmons down the line could have brought Houston some picks -- though likely not this same bounty. And even with this trade return, the Rockets still can't compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans -- fat with picks -- for the next disgruntled superstar (should either of those teams decide to get in on that fun).

Either way, Houston has come out well here.

[Darth_Yoda]

How would simmons look on the celtics as the center?

Kemba
Smart
Brown
Tatum
Simmons

I think that would be pretty lethal.

[NKY fan]

So next time a player wants to be traded

Eat twinkies for a few weeks. Play like crap?

Watch Harden get into good shape in a few weeks

Boy is he a whiner

It will take more than a couple weeks for pear shaped Harden get back to his old form lol

[Donoghus]

This gave me a good laugh