It was expected and talked about almost every day in the last week in the American media, but just when it seemed that the big trade of the 21/22 season would no longer come to fruition, about two hours before the closing of the NBA deadline the tweet everyone was waiting for was released to the world: James Harden in Philadelphia. Ben Simmons in Brooklyn.
Of course, that does not end there, and along with Simmons were sent to the Hunts also Seth Kerry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks (2022 and 2027 protected), while Paul Millsap also moves to Philly.
The immediate question that arises is who is the winner of the trade?
Well, it seems like both.
Joel Ambed, who delivers a terrific season at Philly and is an MVP nominee, gets an all-star (aging) side who really does play basketball - unlike Ben Simmons, who has not stepped on the floor in the world's best league since the 2021 playoffs - hoping to take advantage of the scattered East this season. For the first championship since 1983.
Indeed, Harden is already making signs that he's over his peak, and giving up a property like Seth Kerry and two draft picks may be a bit of a high price, but one that Daryl Murray is willing to pay just to reunite with his beard after they both left Houston.
Brooklyn, for her part, got rid of the yoke of a superstar who does not want to play for her, one who forces Steve Nash and his players to conduct themselves in two different ways (one when he is on the field, and another when he does not), and probably does not really get along with Kyrie Irving, according to reports.
In return the Nets agreed to bet on the ceiling of Ben Simmons, until recently the best defensive players in the league and a candidate for the defensive player of the season.
Unlike Harden, Big Ben does not need too many shots in the evening, which can be more flattering to the stars next to him - Kyrie and Kevin Durant, who like to throw to say the least, but also adapt to the pace of play that Nash and Harden aim for.
But that's not the only plus: Andre Drummond, but especially the wonderful Seth Kerry (40% for threes, 15 points on average), are supposed to solve the depth problem created by the Nets.
Were we wrong?
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