For months they smelled each other, in a couple of days they searched for each other more insistently, finally in a matter of minutes they put pen to paper what few now believed could really happen. That is what James Harden and Ben Simmons moved the one in the direction Philadelphia and the other in the opposite direction, towards Brooklyn.
An exchange chatted for months that a few hours after the trade deadline (ie the end of the trading market) has materialized, by now the hopes of many had been thinning. Because on Wednesday the Nets had made a proposal to the Sixerscomprising Harden e Mills in exchange for Simmons, Curry, Thybulle e Drummond, promptly returned to the sender.
Properly adjusted, less than 24 hours after the trade went through: along with the “Beard” to Phila was sent Paul Millsap, with the Nets receiving Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first picks. An operation by no means taken for granted, although in the end the will of the two key players (Harden and Simmons) to want a change of scenery won. Harden in Brooklyn never managed to establish himself on the scene, also thanks to the arrival of Durant who took away space and balls from him.
His fluctuating seasonal performances convinced the management to send him to Phila, also taking into account the fact that at the end of the season he would have been a free agent (instead he immediately exercised the option of 47.3 million for 2022-23, thus convincing the Sixers to put him under contract). Phila solves the Simmons problem in one fell swoop, separated at home since the end of last season (and the constant absences cost him millions of dollars): Ben wanted the Nets and was satisfied, and now with Durant and Irving (albeit half-service) will try to find the square in a roster that, thanks also to the grafts of Seth Curry and Drummond, now appears deeper and more complete in every department.
At first glance, the trade is “win-win”: Brooklyn’s gain is numerical and qualitative, Phila’s is linked to the possibility of adding to Embiid an All Star capable of carrying heavy burdens, and with a great desire to immediately pursue the ring. Certainly in the East the cards have been reshuffled, and a lot.
THE LAKERS REMAIN TO WATCH. GALLO REMAINS AT ATLANTA
Everyone was waiting for them at the gate, even someone had spread the rumor that LeBron had also moved in the first person in search of prospects to bring to his court. But the Lakers have decided to stay as they are, or perhaps they have not been able to move anything. Because they tried to trade Westbrook, as demonstrated also by the tactical exclusion against the Bucks (they could not risk an injury), miserably missing the target.
No market for coach Vogel and the team “condemned” to save their skin with the ammunition at its disposal, which, as seen in recent times, are decidedly poor (and the mood in the locker room will not be the best: best wishes, coach Vogel). The other surprise exchange of the closing lines involved Kristaps Porzingis, whom Dallas sent to Washington in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and David Bertans. The Wizards also sold Montrezl Harrell to the Hornets, taking Ish Smith and Vernon Carey.
Phoenix extended the outside spins with Torrey Craig from Indiana and Aaron Holiday (also out of Washington), while Boston brought home Daniel Theis, who greeted Houston in exchange for Dennis Schroeder, Bruno Fernando and Enes Kanter (now Freedom), who will also be cut. Same fate that will befall Goran Dragic, sent to San Antonio in exchange for Thad Young and Drew Eubanks.
The most substantial exchange of the day involved 4 teams: the Bucks braced themselves with Serge Ibaka’s expertise, the Clippers took Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye, the Pistons secured Marvin Bagley III and the Kings got Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lules and Josh Jackson. Danilo Gallinari remains in Atlanta, who has been probed by several franchises, but never really ends up in an exchange.
SUNS-BUCKS, HERE’S THE FIRST REVENUE OF THE LATEST FINALS
Once the hangover from the latest market hits has passed, in a few hours it will already be time to immerse yourself in a new night of strong emotions. Because in Phoenix the re-edition of the last Finals is staged, with the Suns hosting the Bucks in a challenge between teams that have the goal to pursue well in mind, precisely the head of both conferences.
Phoenix has been traveling strong, firmly at the top in the West for several weeks (14-1 record in the last 13 games), and presents itself to the first rematch after the 4 losses in a row that actually took the ring off her finger last year. July with the complete starting quintet, although Shamet, Payne, Kaminski, Nader and Saric will still be missing. Shorter is the list of the unavailable home Milwaukee, orphan of two veterans such as Brook Lopez and George Hill.
Needless to say, the most anticipated mismatch will see DeAndre Ayton on one side and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the other: precisely the Greek’s ability to sweep the young Suns center from the area was the key to overturning the inertia in last year’s series, and given what Giannis did a few hours ago against the Lakers (monstre performance of 44 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists) one would think that the MVP of the last Finals is pretty hot and ready for battle.
Phoenix trusts a lot on Booker, who appeared in great shape in the victory of Phila, in addition to the usual Paul who last July closed a bit in decline, immediately contemplating a revenge.
We will all play to the max, but they will too, so it won’t be a normal regular season game
Booker commented. Just to throw some fuel on the fire …
THE OTHER MATCHES: MIAMI TO THE PELICANS TRIAL
The evening dish includes other big names on the pitch: Miami, relaunched by three consecutive successes, is on stage in New Orleans in a challenge that is worth a lot for the hosts, especially after the excellent streak of 4 victories in a row (since Ingram returned it’s a whole different music) which allowed them to hook the play-in train to the detriment of Portland.
The Warriors will also be on the field, hosting the increasingly disappointing Knicks (who did not get anything from the market) to immediately put their ideas back in order after the rather sharp stop at the Jazz house. He could be from the Klay Thompson race, absent in the last challenge, but in general those of the bay know they cannot afford to slow down, even hoping for a stop by the Suns in the super-challenge against Milwaukee, useful to get them closer to the top again.
Clearly the challenge between Wizards-Nets now acquires a whole new value: Harden had already been considered out for the evening before defining the trade in detail and the only happy note for Nash is the presence of Irving, who will have to deal with most of the work on his own, waiting for Durant’s return and insertion ( which does not promise very fast) by Simmons (there will not even be Curry and Drummond). However it goes, from tonight in the NBA a whole new championship begins.
(Credits: Getty Image)
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