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One of the biggest stories in the NBA right now is the Philadelphia 76ers' acquisition of James Harden in a mega-deal just hours before the trade deadline. The Ben Simmons saga finally reached its end as the former no. 1 was dealt to Brooklyn along with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in exchange for the former MVP.
Throughout this ordeal, Daryl Morey was criticized for not making a deal sooner. He was greatly rewarded for his patience, finally getting the reunion with Harden he has long desired. Now, the Sixers have an extremely talented duo leading the charge in their bid to mae a deep run in the postseason.
It goes without saying what adding a player like Harden does for the Sixers' ceiling moving forward. That being said, here are three areas he will impact moving forward.
James Harden Trade Impact On Sixers
3. Size/Rebounding
After years of being one of the bigger lineups in the league, the Sixers found themselves with a size disadvantage this season. Starting a pair of six-foot-two guards in Curry and Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt caused a fair share of matchup issues throughout the year.
Another area the small backcourt affected was rebounding. The Sixers regularly struggle on the glass, and it has allowed opponents to rack up extra possessions and second-chance points. One thing that makes Harden an elite talent is his ability to crash the glass, along with scoring and facilitating at a high level.
So far this season, Harden is averaging 8.0 rebounds per game, the third-highest mark of his career. Inserting him into the lineup not only adds size at one of the guard spots, but also puts another capable rebounder on the floor.
Having a guard who can rebound and push the break should allow the Sixers to finish defensive possessions and attack in transition easier.
2. Facilitation
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As mentioned earlier, Harden is one of the top guards in the league when it comes to passing. Only Chris Paul (10.7) averages more assists per game than him (10.2). After embracing a point guard-by-committee style out of necessity, the Sixers once again have an offensive maestro who can set the table for others.
Tyrese Maxey developed on the fly to fill in at starting point guard, and the addition of Harden will only make life easier for him. Not only does it take playing pressure off him, but the second-year guard can learn a lot from his new backcourt partner.
The biggest thing Harden's presence in the lineup will do is make life easier for others. Between the gravity he draws and his high-level IQ, teammates will be able to thrive playing alongside him. Flanking him with shooters like Danny Green and Georges Niang should lead to a plethora of wide-open looks from beyond the arc.
1. Shot creation
Easily the most important area James Harden will drastically improve is shot creation. More importantly, creating shots on the perimeter. For the first time since Jimmy Butler's short stint in Philly, the Sixers have someone who can create offense at a high level on the outside.
This is an element the team has desperately needed over the years, and now they have it. With the addition of Harden, the Sixers now have two players who can punish opposing defenses on all three levels.
When it comes to late-game offense, things just got a whole lot easier for the Sixers. All they have to do is get Harden and Embiid in the pick-and-roll together and react to what the defense gives them. Given both players' ability to score from anywhere on the floor, stopping both of them will be an extremely tall order for whoever is tasked with guarding them.
Due to a nagging hamstring injury, Harden will not make his debut for the Sixers until after the All-Star break. When he is able to take the floor, these are three key factors to keep an eye on as he gets acclimated with the team.
