The Philadelphia 76ers officially became the latest team to send James Harden packing. They sent the future Hall of Famer to his desired destination, the Los Angeles Clippers, in a package that netted them a slew of expiring contracts and draft picks.
Players like Marcus Morris Sr. and Nic Batum can give Philadelphia some added depth for this season, but this deal was for the picks. Make no mistake about it. Philadelphia landed two unprotected first-round picks in the deal as well as a pick swap. Additionally, they added a pair of second-round picks. That's a whole lot of draft capital.
A team trying to win with Joel Embiid in his prime and Tyrese Maxey ascending is not waiting until 2026 and 2028 to cash in those first-round picks. They're going to try and use them as well as some other assets they have to try and land a star to play alongside Embiid and Maxey so Philadelphia can contend. Fortunately for them, there are many interesting names for them to choose from.
3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are a team stuck in no man's land. They're not good enough to make any sort of noise in the Eastern Conference but also aren't bad enough to land a high lottery pick without some serious luck. The middle is a place where no NBA team should want to be.
With Chicago having no realistic way of getting much better, they'd be better off trading some of their better players and entering a rebuild. If they do that, Zach LaVine would become a monster trade candidate for many teams attempting to compete.
The 28-year-old has developed from a raw high-flyer to a consistently efficient 25-point-per-game scorer with the Chicago Bulls. He'd give the 76ers the third option they desperately need with Harden's departure, as well as another ball handler who can create shots not only for himself but for others. He's a player that's reportedly been discussed as a potential target already if Chicago opts to rebuild.
What might make LaVine more appealing is the fact that he's already locked in on an extension through at the very least the 2025-26 season. This gives Philadelphia more insurance that their new big three would be together for more than one season.
2. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors have to decide on a direction at some point. They either have to try and win games, or build around Scottie Barnes and finally blow it up. They should choose the latter, and that's what they'd do if they traded OG Anunoby to Philadelphia.
Anunoby has developed into one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA. He's an All-NBA caliber defender who is a career 37.5 percent shooter from downtown. The 76ers obviously lose a ton when it comes to scoring and playmaking with Harden leaving, but would gain a lot with Anunoby replacing him on the other side of the ball.
The Eastern Conference is full of wings that can drop 30 on any given night. Anunoby can be the guy they stick on the Jayson Tatum's and Giannis Antetokounmpo's of the world and watch him neutralize them. Obviously, nobody can stop these superstars, but Anunoby can at least limit them. He does this while averaging somewhere around 17 points per game.
Anunoby being on an expiring contract isn't great, but that'd lessen his value to the point where Philadelphia can easily acquire him in a trade and can look to extend him if they offer him max money. The fit is seamless, and I could argue the 76ers would be even better than they were with Harden.
1. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
If the 76ers are concerned about Joel Embiid's desire to stay with the franchise long-term, perhaps pairing him with Pascal Siakam would help. Like Embiid, Siakam hails from Cameroon and is one of the best players in the NBA.
Siakam has taken on the role of being the top option for the Raptors in recent years and has performed at an All-NBA level. He was one of five players last season to average at least 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per game joining Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. Pretty impressive company.
On this team, Siakam wouldn't quite put up those numbers with Joel Embiid being the primary option, but he'd still be a good fit. He'd add another scorer and distributor that this team needs.
Siakam won an NBA Championship with the Raptors as a second option behind Kawhi Leonard. A trio of Embiid, Siakam, and Maxey should absolutely be formidable enough to compete for another championship. The only thing that'd make Philadelphia hesitate is the fact that he's also on an expiring deal. Assuming an extension can be dealt with, Siakam to Philadelphia makes a lot of sense.