2021-22 76ers thread: Going for it all

ManicCompression

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I think it’s exactly Hardens approach to pay hourly, unless they engaged for a flat fee.
For a max player, this is probably smart, since there's not much to negotiate. Why give away 5% of $240 million when you don't have to?

That said, agents do a lot more than just negotiate contracts - just look at some of the sympathetic articles that Ben Simmons has gotten, or how some players are the face of a brand (is James Harden in any commercials?), or how agents can work behind the scenes to negotiate trads.

It seems he's done fine so far, but this kind of thing (paperwork) is something an agent would take care of, and also an agent would have a longer term relationship at stake with Philly than JH.
 

Cellar-Door

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Yeah a max guy (or a rookie honestly) doesn't need an agent if they have people doing the ancillary stuff (manager, publicist etc.) one reason agencies have expanded into far more than just contracts is... otherwise a guy really doesn't need you until his contract is up, but if you take all the other services and bundle them you become more valuable.
 

lovegtm

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Losing Curry really hurts Philly. There just isn't tons of shooting left there, of the type that really scares you and bends defenses. Harden is meh without the ball, and he'll need to put in some effort there to handle the increased attention Embiid will get now. The Celtics were just throwing bodies at him as soon as he went into any move.
 

128

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Losing Curry really hurts Philly. There just isn't tons of shooting left there, of the type that really scares you and bends defenses. Harden is meh without the ball, and he'll need to put in some effort there to handle the increased attention Embiid will get now. The Celtics were just throwing bodies at him as soon as he went into any move.
Yeah, there was talk that the Sixers might be getting Patty Mills in the deal, which would have offset some of the loss of Curry's shooting. Danny Green, Harris and Maxey are better shooters than they showed last nite, but this is still likely to be a weakness for Philly.
 

lovegtm

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Yeah, there was talk that the Sixers might be getting Patty Mills in the deal, which would have offset some of the loss of Curry's shooting. Danny Green, Harris and Maxey are better shooters than they showed last nite, but this is still likely to be a weakness for Philly.
If Harden declines to top-15/20, rather than top 5/10, this deal gets ugly really, really fast.

Also, while Green is a good shooter, Harris and Maxey only get up 3.5 attempts/36 each. Harris is only 36% career, 35% this year, even with that low volume. Grant does 5.4/36, and he's not particularly high volume.

3.5 attempts/game simply doesn't get it done for spacing. That's "I occasionally shoot some 3s when open or late in the shot clock", not "I make defenses pay for taking an extra step to the paint."
 

HomeRunBaker

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Losing Curry really hurts Philly. There just isn't tons of shooting left there, of the type that really scares you and bends defenses. Harden is meh without the ball, and he'll need to put in some effort there to handle the increased attention Embiid will get now. The Celtics were just throwing bodies at him as soon as he went into any move.
When I first heard of the Simmons for Harden trade I was wondering who else the Sixers would receive based on Harden’s contract certainty hurting his trade value. Heh!
 

bakahump

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Well Harden does seem to play Hourly, So I would expect his personal management to be similar.
 

terrynever

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All joking aside, the 76ers were smart to give Harden’s tender hamstring another week off. Doc gets a few extra practice sessions to work on a new offense that could be initiated by four of the starters. So this will take some time. Nets are also starting over but there is enough time left for NJ to be ready for the playoffs, especially after NYC Mayor Eric Adams lifts mask mandates. And that is coming, probably in early March.
Since Harden and Embiid normally shoot 10 free throws each during games, Philly is going to live on the line in the playoffs. I could see 30 FTs combined from those two and a lot of foul problems for opposing teams. Harden will also feast on teams that want to throw three defenders at Embiid, as Boston did on Tuesday.
Milwaukee still looks like the best team in the deepest East playoff field in years.
 

Remagellan

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All joking aside, the 76ers were smart to give Harden’s tender hamstring another week off. Doc gets a few extra practice sessions to work on a new offense that could be initiated by four of the starters. So this will take some time. Nets are also starting over but there is enough time left for NJ to be ready for the playoffs, especially after NYC Mayor Eric Adams lifts mask mandates. And that is coming, probably in early March.
Since Harden and Embiid normally shoot 10 free throws each during games, Philly is going to live on the line in the playoffs. I could see 30 FTs combined from those two and a lot of foul problems for opposing teams. Harden will also feast on teams that want to throw three defenders at Embiid, as Boston did on Tuesday.
Milwaukee still looks like the best team in the deepest East playoff field in years.
This was my thinking as well---that delaying Harden's debut was a combo of giving him more time to rest the hamstring and allowing more practices to integrate him into their offense. This trade is about how well the team performs in the playoffs, not before the All-Star Break.
 

HomeRunBaker

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This was my thinking as well---that delaying Harden's debut was a combo of giving him more time to rest the hamstring and allowing more practices to integrate him into their offense. This trade is about how well the team performs in the playoffs, not before the All-Star Break.
Since the day of the trade the Sixers had B2B games, surely a day off, then likely a light practice the day prior to the Celtics debacle. One off day that included travel to Milwaukee and now comes the ASB. At the most he’d have had two light practices with the team and one of them was immediately followed by a 50pt loss.
 

Remagellan

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Since the day of the trade the Sixers had B2B games, surely a day off, then likely a light practice the day prior to the Celtics debacle. One off day that included travel to Milwaukee and now comes the ASB. At the most he’d have had two light practices with the team and one of them was immediately followed by a 50pt loss.
This trade is about how well the team performs in the playoffs, not before the All-Star Break.
 

terrynever

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I was referring to the amount of practice time Harden has had with the team since the trade.
The actual learning process for Harden will be staged during real games. Judging from Harden’s sideline “coaching” of Maxey last night, he seems temporarily perked up by his new surroundings. Just as he facilitated his game to suit Durant, I hope the same happens here because Philly has some guys who can run the floor and Harden is a great outlet passer. Doc has enough cred to discourage Harden from hogging the ball too much. When Embiid takes a break, Harden might revert to his iso stuff.

An important aspect of this trade is how Maxey develops his game with Harden running the offense. If you saw last night’s game, Harden was shown tutoring Maxey and telling him to take over. Maxey scored 16 points in a five-minute stretch to erase a big deficit. Harden seems to mentoring Maxey.

I give this trade through the end of next season before Harden becomes unhappy over something. He has quit twice before on teammates.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Didn't see the game last night but this article says that PHI played Harris on Townes, allowing Embiid to play the TL role of guarding a non-shooter. If Harris can guard up, PHI's defense will be helped tremendously.

Harden with a super efficient 27 points on 12 shots. Maxey got a ton of open looks/late rotations to attack and made the most of them. PHI went to the FT line 36 times. This is going to be a tough blueprint to beat for most teams.
 

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That was a very promising first game. I hope it is something they can sustain, but we'll see.

Since the Knicks are shitty again, I look forward to rooting for Philly in the playoffs.
 

terrynever

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Courtside tickets going for $1100 a pop on secondary market for Wednesday’s Harden debut in Philly.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I have preached forever that on-court chemistry wasn’t something that you could build past nominal growth but rather was a natural phenomenon that either is or isn’t. After watching the Wolves game for like half of a quarter you can see how Harden is a perfect match with this lineup. Taking the ball out of Maxey’s hands makes him a lethal complimentary scorer off of Harden creating angles in forcing the defense to react. Embiid is going to Embiid…..but the big beneficiary here is going to be the unleashing or Maxey in a super productive role imo.
 

benhogan

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Courtside tickets going for $1100 a pop on secondary market for Wednesday’s Harden debut in Philly.
they look good, excitement should be high

I wouldn't be shocked to see Morey attach a pick to Tobias and ship him to OKC this summer.

Maxey looks like a promising 3rd wheel
 

BigSoxFan

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they look good, excitement should be high

I wouldn't be shocked to see Morey attach a pick to Tobias and ship him to OKC this summer.

Maxey looks like a promising 3rd wheel
Yeah, I was curious about who would rise to the occasion as the 3rd option and it appears to be Maxey so far. Dude is going to get paid playing off of Embiid/Harden.
 

terrynever

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Maxey is fun to watch. The other night, he got caught up behind the play and joked with the ref while running across mid-court. Never stopped running and intercepted a pass because the ball handler didn’t see him coming.

Maxey has worked this year on his footwork for catch-and-shoot 3s. Very coachable, unlike the guy he replaced.
 

terrynever

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Maxey has a lot in common with Rondo and they are pals, according to this excerpt from the Philly Inquirer:

Rajon Rondo started 25 games as a Celtics rookie, scored a season-high 23 points twice, shot 41.8% from the field, and made just 20.7% of his 3-pointers for a lousy Boston club. By the end of July of 2007, Danny Ainge had remade Rondo’s rookie team in trades that landed Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce. Then Doc dropped a bombshell.

“We made the trade for all those guys and I told our staff, ‘We’re starting Rondo.’ And they were like, ‘What?! He can’t shoot! How we gonna win it with a non-shooting point guard?!’ ” Rivers recalled.

His bosses weren’t happy, either. Ainge had been more bullish than Doc on Rondo from the start, but having Rondo run the Big Three was another matter.

“I got a lot of pushback from the front office on that one,” Rivers said.

The Celtics won the title that year.

Rivers sees a lot of Rondo’s work ethic in Maxey, which makes sense. Both are cerebral guards who went to Kentucky, both went 21st overall, and they now work out together in the summertime.

Will there be another similarity?

After all, Rondo, with Allen, Garnett, and Pierce, won a championship with Doc and the Celtics in his second NBA season. Maxey, in his second season, now plays for Doc, with Embiid, Harden, and Tobias Harris — and against a much less formidable cast of opposing teams.

Could Simmons’ holdout be the disguised blessing the Sixers have prayed for since 1983? Will Maxey’s fast development be the catalyst for the 76ers’ first NBA title in nearly four decades? Would Simmons’ presence have stunted Maxey’s growth?
 

terrynever

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Going to be interesting to see how Miami defenses Philly tonight. Cavs played a lot of zone and Maxey burned them. Last two games, 9 for 12 from treyland. He’s not that good. Nobody is. But how do you defense an offense with inside and outside threats?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Going to be interesting to see how Miami defenses Philly tonight. Cavs played a lot of zone and Maxey burned them. Last two games, 9 for 12 from treyland. He’s not that good. Nobody is. But how do you defense an offense with inside and outside threats?
Miami the fresher team despite 3rd game in 4 nights with Butler and Tucker having a load management day on Thursday. I wonder if Philly will be at full strength for this one……it wouldn’t surprise me to see them pull the plug on (at least) Harden here. Already wagered on Heat for this early angle as can easily get out of it later. (Wrong thread)
 

terrynever

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Miami the fresher team despite 3rd game in 4 nights with Butler and Tucker having a load management day on Thursday. I wonder if Philly will be at full strength for this one……it wouldn’t surprise me to see them pull the plug on (at least) Harden here. Already wagered on Heat for this early angle as can easily get out of it later. (Wrong thread)
Actually, and as always I know nothing, but I suspect both teams consider this a big game and will bring full rosters to the game. I doubt DeAndre Jordan will be suited up. Jimmy Butler said earlier this week that he wanted to see how Philly fares against stronger opponents. Buckets will play hard tonight.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Actually, and as always I know nothing, but I suspect both teams consider this a big game and will bring full rosters to the game. I doubt DeAndre Jordan will be suited up. Jimmy Butler said earlier this week that he wanted to see how Philly fares against stronger opponents. Buckets will play hard tonight.
It’s just a logical hunch. They have Chicago on Monday after a comeback win last night. It just seems like a good spot to avoid playing Harden 3 games in 4 days after missing so much time. It’s in Miami so you aren’t leaving your paying fans disappointed. I don’t go for the “big game” all that much in the regular season over load management so we shall see.
 

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DGreenwood

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It looks like there's a rumor that Bradley Beal is trying to get to Philly this offseason to play with Harden and Embiid. It'd need to be a sign and trade I think, and I'm not sure Philly has a lot to offer Washington, but in the NBA it seems like stars get where they want to go a lot of the time so who knows.

Sorry if this is being discussed elsewhere and I missed it in my quick search.

Rumor is Bradley Beal will join James Harden and Joel Embiid on 76ers
 

Cellar-Door

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It looks like there's a rumor that Bradley Beal is trying to get to Philly this offseason to play with Harden and Embiid. It'd need to be a sign and trade I think, and I'm not sure Philly has a lot to offer Washington, but in the NBA it seems like stars get where they want to go a lot of the time so who knows.

Sorry if this is being discussed elsewhere and I missed it in my quick search.

Rumor is Bradley Beal will join James Harden and Joel Embiid on 76ers
Possible, and Sign and trades usually don't get a big return:
DeRozan- 2025 1st and a 2nd plus Thad Young and filler (Spurs actually got a protected 1st and a good 2nd for Young later)
Lowry: Precious Achiuwa and salary fill (Dragic)
Lonzo: a 2nd and salary fill
Durant: WITH A 1st, for D-Lo and filler
Kemba: WITH A 2nd for Rozier

Butler: complicated 4 way deal... PHI got Richardson for him basically. If you're looking at MIA side, they moved out Richardson, WHiteside and a 1st for Butler, Myers Leonard and cash.

COuple ways the Beal deal could get done (extend and trade, opt-in trade and then extend, opt out and sign/trade, etc.) but basically all of them involve someone eating Tobias Harris and so that likely costs a pick too, maybe more, but in line with the deals above.
 

terrynever

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“If it becomes a free-throw shooting contest, I feel pretty confident with our team,” coach Doc Rivers said.
 

terrynever

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The B Team is up 112-106 with 26 seconds left. Maxey, Korkmaz, Shake Milton, even Tobias Harris are balling tonight. Embiid cheering from the bench in street clothes. Not seeing Harden.
 

benhogan

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The B Team is up 112-106 with 26 seconds left. Maxey, Korkmaz, even Tobias Harris are balling tonight. Embiid cheering from the bench in street clothes. Not seeing Harden.
the Bucks & a healthy Nets scare me more than Miami

Spo should get coach of the year consideration
 

benhogan

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Ime is coach of the year, in my book.
Taylor Jenkins probably has outperformed preseason expectations most, but like HRB said IME is in there with a handful.

IME & Brad have both done a nice job. Thought it would take a season, surprised they turned it around this quickly

What is talk in 76er land? Are they looking to drop to the 4 seed? Avoiding the Nets in Round 1 isn't the worst idea
 

HomeRunBaker

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Taylor Jenkins probably has outperformed preseason expectations most, but like HRB said IME is in there with a handful.

IME & Brad have both done a nice job. Thought it would take a season, surprised they turned it around this quickly

What is talk in 76er land? Are they looking to drop to the 4 seed? Avoiding the Nets in Round 1 isn't the worst idea
I’m telling ya guys….don’t count the Nets out of the 6-seed. The Raptors are as big a risk to them than the Cavs by my book but that’s going to come down to the wire even without Simmons.
 

terrynever

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Taylor Jenkins probably has outperformed preseason expectations most, but like HRB said IME is in there with a handful.

IME & Brad have both done a nice job. Thought it would take a season, surprised they turned it around this quickly

What is talk in 76er land? Are they looking to drop to the 4 seed? Avoiding the Nets in Round 1 isn't the worst idea
Let’s see how long they rest Harden. His legs look shot right now and the injury is affecting everything.

I don’t think they care about dropping to the 4 seed if they can rest Harden and Embiid. This is not a team that gives up, as we saw against Miami. Maxey was terrific last night, especially in the fourth quarter when he hit all five of his shots, blocked a shot, put the team on his shoulders, smiling all the way.

They go west now for Lakers, Clippers and Suns. 0-3 will drop them to the fourth seed. But they have a great record on the road so 2-1 is possible. Embiid will play in LA but I suspect he will next rest in Phoenix.
 

lovegtm

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Let’s see how long they rest Harden. His legs look shot right now and the injury is affecting everything.
...
The good news for the Sixers is that if there's anyone you can trust to be ready come playoff time, it's James Harden.