Gotta Give Credit To Sixers GM Daryl Morey For Getting This Team Out Of Another IMPOSSIBLE Situation
ESPN - The LA Clippers acquired 10-time All-Star guard James Harden in a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, sources told ESPN. The 76ers sent Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap and an additional first-round pick that will be routed from a third team, sources told ESPN. The Clippers and a third team were still finalizing those details late Monday night, sources said. The Sixers will waive veteran guard Danny Green to create the roster space for the trade, sources said.
First thing's first - Hey, Harden, ya dick:
Did the Sixers "lose" this trade on paper? Probably. For sure talent wise, at least atm. The ability of James Harden, when he actually wants to play, definitely trumps everyone in this trade. But we can check back in 2028 when those draft picks have been exercised and see what the Sixers did with ALL the cap space they just opened up. Can't imagine the Clippers living in a utopia thru next season, let alone dominate until the end of the decade…
Regardless, you HAVE to give credit to Daryl Morey for getting this Sixers team out of another impossible situation. This is now the third time in his 3-year tenure with the team in which he's faced a situation most GM's usually never have to deal with once. Let's break them all down real quick:
1) Morey came into the organization fresh off Bryan Colangelo's huge collars creating burner accounts (while trading up to the #1 pick for Markelle Fultz) and rookie GM Elton Brand legit making every wrong decision possible. Remember Al Horford and his zillion dollar contract as a Sixer? Sadly, yes. Daryl Morey joined the squad and magically made that impossible situation disappear.
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B) Then of course there was the Ben Simmons saga. A truly unique disaster never seen before in all of sports. No GM should ever have to deal with what Morey had to go through in this situation. Morey did what he could, stuck to his guns of waiting for some value, and attempted to make watered down lemonade out of a bag of syphilitic lemons.
And 3) The James Harden saga. Was this one self-inflicted by Morey? Possibly. At least it was definitely more volitional than the other two disastrous situations. Especially what happened this off-season. But I believe Morey has done all he can with the cards he's being dealt. Like him or not, what more could you expect out of this? Ben Simmons forced his way out and James Harden was by FAR the best outcome of that shitty spot. They tried it for a season and 1/3, and now Harden doesn't want to play for the Sixers. He made it public. He also tied everyone's balls down by saying he'd only really go to the Clippers. You can do all of those things as a player in the NBA circa 2023 and get away with it. Morey is doing everything he can to keep a championship 2nd round viable team on the court during Embiid's MVP prime. And for that, I applaud him.
Now let's see what we can do this season with all the drama out the door and with this new found money. Suggestion: LOCK HIM UP:
Now do me a favor and actually CUE IT!