Friday, February 8, 2019

76ers the Biggest Winner of NBA's Trade Deadline

By acquiring Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers now own the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. Their starting-five features 2019 All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, along with Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick and Harris.

Harris has made 43.4 percent of his 3-pointers this season, shooting 49.6 percent overall. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest with an 18.69 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) with LA. Harris can play on or off the ball, which gives head coach Brett Brown more lineup versatility. The 6-foot-8 forward will be utilized as a stretch four in a lot of lineups.

Mike Scott and Boban Marjanovic were also sent to Philadelphia in the trade. Scott can serve as a backup power forward, while Marjanovic will be used as a center off the bench.

The 76ers’ acquisition of Harris comes just a few months after the team traded for Butler, a four-time All-Star. First-year GM Elton Brand and the 76ers are going all-in for this season.

"We believe we are in position to contend now," Brand said, "and our moves reflect that belief."

Philadelphia did give up on Markelle Fultz—shipping the second-year guard to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons, a protected first-round pick and a second-round pick—but the NBA's 2017 No. 1 overall pick had no future with the 76ers. Brand said the Fultz trade was made so Philadelphia could add wing depth—and it accomplished that by landing Simmons.

"The goal there, we expected him to be back some time this season," Brand said when asked what went into trading Fultz now. "That was our hope. But right now we had a chance to add a player, wing depth, and so we had to go do it now."

Simmons wasn’t the only wing Brand added at the trade deadline. The 76ers also traded for James Ennis from the Houston Rockets, who viewed the swingman expendable after they acquired Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets saved $2.4 million by trading Ennis to the 76ers and are now $2.4 million above the tax threshold.

The 76ers' flurry of moves at the trade deadline enable them to challenge the East's elite and reach their first Finals since 2001.

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