Did Philly just hand Brooklyn the keys to the title?

[PaxtonDarcy]

Yea, I still don’t believe in the nets. A bunch of dudes who in theory should be good but will most likely fall flat because two of them are excellent at apathy.

[byennie]

Yea, I still don’t believe in the nets. A bunch of dudes who in theory should be good but will most likely fall flat because two of them are excellent at apathy.

"Fall FLAT". Hehe.

[ThaPreacher]

wait is this serious?

no, trading the Nets a guy who hasn't played since the time he had an epic playoff choke on national television almost a year ago is not "handing Brooklyn the keys to the title"

Not playing simply makes him fresh

He did not choke, he passed the ball to a teammate

He was not the only player traded in the deal…

Simmons is a major long term talent. His ability to get up and down the court is rare. He play defense and distributes the ball. Boston should have found pieces to acquire him.

Harden does not play D, does not move without the ball, and is not the same player he was in Houston. I was shocked at the overpay.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think this could possibly pull Philly over the top short term , win now .

Not sure KD and Kyrie fragile bodies will survive.

[jpotter33]

There's a lot to question here. On paper, they look better,  but both teams have major question marks now.

Philly

The biggest thing is whether Harden and Embiid will play well together, and how committed Harden is to winning and how much he has lost in his game.

I think they'll work fine enough together, though I'm not sure whether they'll work well enough together to win it all, especially this year with a third of the season to coalesce. I also think they're going to miss Curry more than is being let on. And losing Drummond hurts some, too.

Brooklyn

This one is super interesting, as this is really a crapshoot I think given all of the contextual factors. Theoretically, Simmons should complement that team well and provide them some much needed defensive presence. Curry is just another ice cold shooter for them, too.

But that is HUGELY risky to have probably three of the biggest headcases (less so for Durant but he's getting there) working together in the same locker room. That seems doomed to fail, especially with a coach like Nash that is mainly a rubber stamp for the stars. Also, given Kyrie's vaccine concerns, Simmons' ability to play, Harris' injury, and KD's injury which seems to still have another month or so to go, I don't think they're winning anything this year. Dug themselves too big of a hole this year.

Buy, yeah, I think long-term the Simmons addition is probably going to blow up in their face. I think he's a shell of himself when he comes back due to all that has gone on and his much lesser presence in Brooklyn, and I think while they're still a highly elite shooting team, they took a significant step down in the scoring department with the downgrade from Harden to Simmons. And that was their major key over other teams - always being able to have two elite scorers on the floor at all times.

[Ogaju]

wait is this serious?

no, trading the Nets a guy who hasn't played since the time he had an epic playoff choke on national television almost a year ago is not "handing Brooklyn the keys to the title"

Not playing simply makes him fresh

He did not choke, he passed the ball to a teammate

He was not the only player traded in the deal…

Simmons is a major long term talent. His ability to get up and down the court is rare. He play defense and distributes the ball. Boston should have found pieces to acquire him.

Harden does not play D, does not move without the ball, and is not the same player he was in Houston. I was shocked at the overpay.

The TNT studio crew agrees with you. Heavy overpay. How old is Simmons? How old is Harden?

[Moranis]

Milwaukee is still the favorites in the East.  I have no confidence that anyone can really slow Giannis down and I think they've mostly been in cruise control all season.  I expect them to really start ramping up the intensity soon and Giannis is BY FAR the best player in the world.  With Durant's health issues, no one is anywhere close to him.

I'd put Philly at 2 right now.  I have no confidence in Durant being healthy, Irving playing more than like a third of the time (he is going to get hurt and miss road games as well), and Simmons doing much of anything this year.  Now maybe next year, Brooklyn will be the team to beat, they still will rely way too much on Irving who even when vaccination isn't an issue (and it may always be), he still misses a quarter of the games, can't play defense, and is deteriorating. 

Harden when engaged still plays like a MVP.  He is a great fit next to Embiid on paper and this puts Harris in a much better place for him to be as the 3rd offensive option.  And the Sixers kept Maxey and Thybulle, which was great for them.  I'd have rather given future picks than either of those two players so I get that decision fully.  And while I do think they could have traded for Harden cheaper in the summer (perhaps just Simmons), I don't think it makes sense to waste a prime year of Embiid, especially with his health issues.  Go for it now even if it costs you a bit more.

[tazzmaniac]

Don't see how it is a big overpay for Harden who is a top 10 player.  Harden also picked up his player option for next season which is a big deal for the Sixers. 

Simmons was dead weight to the Sixers.  Curry is a good shooter but he's just as bad a defender.  Drummond was a decent backup in the regular season but doubt he'll do much in the playoffs.  The 2022 or 23 pick (Nets choice) is very likely to be in the mid 20's.  The 2027 pick is top 8 protected for 2 years and then becomes a 2nd round pick. 

[Who]

Philly
I also think they're going to miss Curry more than is being let on.

Dallas sure did after Curry left him. He was much more valuable than they realized although .... I do wonder whether he is the type of player who is more valuable in the regular season than in the playoffs where defensively he can get picked on more frequently reducing the net benefit of his offense.

[Who]

Durant and Kyrie (if he plays) will hate playing with Simmons. His willingness to be passive will make their jobs harder. Nets just traded away a top 10 player for peanuts in my eyes.

Man, I expect the exact opposite. I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons. Someone who will push the ball on every possession, someone who loves passing, who will set them up for easy transition hoops and jump-shots, someone who does not shoot much and loves to see his teammates shoot the ball (which both Kyrie and Durant kinda like doing).

And then he'll do the heavy lifting on defensive assignments and give them major help on the boards.

I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons.

[celticsclay]

Durant and Kyrie (if he plays) will hate playing with Simmons. His willingness to be passive will make their jobs harder. Nets just traded away a top 10 player for peanuts in my eyes.

Man, I expect the exact opposite. I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons. Someone who will push the ball on every possession, someone who loves passing, who will set them up for easy transition hoops and jump-shots, someone who does not shoot much and loves to see his teammates shoot the ball (which both Kyrie and Durant kinda like doing).

And then he'll do the heavy lifting on defensive assignments and give them major help on the boards.

I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons.

Few posters here have a fetish for the 76ers. If you go back the all things Philadelphia thread their takes are embarrassing. Kind of thought it would end after okafor went to China, Noel settled out as a backup, saric is a fringe rotation  player coming off acl surgery and fultz is at best a low end starting guard. But here we are poop into roses 6 years later when they never even made the ecf.

[gouki88]

Durant and Kyrie (if he plays) will hate playing with Simmons. His willingness to be passive will make their jobs harder. Nets just traded away a top 10 player for peanuts in my eyes.

Man, I expect the exact opposite. I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons. Someone who will push the ball on every possession, someone who loves passing, who will set them up for easy transition hoops and jump-shots, someone who does not shoot much and loves to see his teammates shoot the ball (which both Kyrie and Durant kinda like doing).

And then he'll do the heavy lifting on defensive assignments and give them major help on the boards.

I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons.

I expect them to love Simmons on the court, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Kyrie ruins yet another locker-room with Simmons

[celticsclay]

Durant and Kyrie (if he plays) will hate playing with Simmons. His willingness to be passive will make their jobs harder. Nets just traded away a top 10 player for peanuts in my eyes.

Man, I expect the exact opposite. I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons. Someone who will push the ball on every possession, someone who loves passing, who will set them up for easy transition hoops and jump-shots, someone who does not shoot much and loves to see his teammates shoot the ball (which both Kyrie and Durant kinda like doing).

And then he'll do the heavy lifting on defensive assignments and give them major help on the boards.

I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons.

I expect them to love Simmons on the court, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Kyrie ruins yet another locker-room with Simmons

I don’t disagree kyrie is a complete wildcard in the locker room. But people are oddly not realizing how much this trade helps the nets.

[tazzmaniac]

Durant and Kyrie (if he plays) will hate playing with Simmons. His willingness to be passive will make their jobs harder. Nets just traded away a top 10 player for peanuts in my eyes.

Man, I expect the exact opposite. I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons. Someone who will push the ball on every possession, someone who loves passing, who will set them up for easy transition hoops and jump-shots, someone who does not shoot much and loves to see his teammates shoot the ball (which both Kyrie and Durant kinda like doing).

And then he'll do the heavy lifting on defensive assignments and give them major help on the boards.

I expect them to love playing with Ben Simmons.

The KD, Kyrie and Harden combo was always going to be a poor fit.  However, Harden did average more than 10 assists and 8 rebounds per game while with the Nets. 

The Nets are a good fit for Simmons.  He'll be much more comfortable as the 3rd star.  However his limitations will still be there especially in the playoffs. 

Personally, I think I'd take the Bucks and Sixers Big 3s over the Nets Big 3. 

[nickagneta]

Not sure why anyone would think the Embiid/Harden pairing is going to be successful. Harden hasn't had any ultimate success with any stars he has been teamed up with.

Whether it's KD and Russ in OKC or Howard in Houston or CP3 in Houston or Russ in Houston or KD and Kyrie in Brooklyn, Harden has never played well enough with others to win anything. All those breakups ended badly.

Why does anyone think being with Embiid is going to be any different? There is just as good a chance that by trading deadline next year Harden is asking to be traded again.

Glad Boston was smart enough to not send Brown and Smart and 3 1st rounders out for Harden as some were suggesting