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.

J.J. Redick was 'Hour Away' from Joining Pacers

Before reaching an agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $12.3 million contract, J.J. Redick seriously considered signing with the Indiana Pacers.

On the most recent episode of The J.J. Redick podcast, the 34-year-old revealed how he contemplated leaving Philadelphia for Indiana in free agency.

"I almost signed with Indy, I mean I was an hour away, two hours away," he said. "I was very close, I had a 5 p.m. deadline and it was basically 12:30-1 o'clock in the afternoon when Philly changed the offer."

The 76ers likely sweetened their contract offer after learning of Indiana’s interest in the shooting guard. With both teams on the rise, Philadelphia couldn’t afford to lose a member of its starting lineup to a top-notch Eastern Conference foe.

J.J. Redick considered joining Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers in free agency. (USA Today Sports)

Philadelphia desperately needed to maintain the sharpshooting Redick—who averaged a career-best 17.1 points per contest and shot 42 percent from three-point territory in 2017-18—after losing Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli in free agency.

While the Pacers were unable to pry Redick away from the 76ers, they managed to address their shooting needs by signing Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott.

Redick indicated last year he wants to retire with the 76ers. He will play under a one-year deal for the second straight year—after signing a 1-year, $20 million with the franchise in the summer of 2017—and will rejoin a team that won 52 games in the regular season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.