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As expected, Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson has come out with his in-depth analysis of Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Also unsurprisingly, the Hall of Famer took notice of the biggest transaction of the day involving the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately for Nets fans, Johnson's immediate reaction isn't going to sit well with them.
Johnson once again went full reporter mode on Twitter with a flurry of tweets about the riot that was the NBA trade deadline. He had a couple of things to say about the Nets-Sixers deal, and it is clear that he isn't convinced Brooklyn got better after this move:
Because Kyrie is not vaccinated and Ben Simmons hasn't played all year, Brooklyn will not be a championship contending team this season, but they definitely will be next season on.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 10, 2022
Fair point from Johnson here. He didn't even mention Kevin Durant's injury, which has significantly affected the Nets' level of play of late. Then again, KD should be back as a full participant soon enough, but sadly, the same cannot be said about the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving. Magic also pointed out that fitness could be an issue for Ben Simmons considering how he hasn't played a single game all year long. Once you put these all together, Johnson is adamant that the Nets aren't going to be in the mix for this year's title. Next year perhaps?
What Magic Johnson liked, though, was how the Sixers upgraded their roster. With James Harden now playing alongside Joel Embiid in Philly, Magic believes that this team just improved its championship credentials:
Philadelphia picking up James Harden makes them a championship contending team.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 10, 2022
It is clear that Johnson considers Philadelphia to be the big winner of this trade. There are still question marks about Harden's fit with Embiid on the basketball court, but there's no denying that the Sixers would much rather have Harden than a Ben Simmons who had no intention of playing for the team ever again. Parting ways with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first round picks (2022 and 2027) will be tough pills to swallow, but if everything goes according to plan, then this would be a stroke of genius from the part of Daryl Morey and the Sixers front office.
Magic, however, made no mention of his Lakers and their lack of activity in his tweets. He did say he was speechless about LA's demoralizing defeat against an extremely shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers side on Wednesday, so perhaps he's still at a loss for words up to this point.
