Thunderous Intentions
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OKC Thunder: 2 multi-team James Harden blockbusters

By Mark Nilon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. New York Knicks defeated the Houston Rockets 125-123. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. New York Knicks defeated the Houston Rockets 125-123. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
OKC Thunder (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Harden heads to Philadelphia, Houston stays competitive, OKC gets solid talent

Perhaps the most talked-about trade destination for James Harden from this offseason, in this deal the Philadelphia 76ers land the superstar point guard all while getting their wish of keeping Ben Simmons as well.

The draw for the Rockets in this scenario is the fact that they bring on Tobias Harris to partner with John Wall, keeping the team still very much relevant in the Western Conference even without Harden in tow.

Not only this, but they also wind up receiving young guys in Matisse Thybulle & Ty Jerome as potential building blocks to lead them into the future and bring on first-round picks in 2021, 2023, and 2027 to make up for the ones they lost in last offseason’s trade for Russell Westbrook.

Philly, of course, brings on Harden to formulate a big-3 with Simmons and Joel Embiid. The trio would immediately thrust the Sixers into the title-favorites conversation alongside the Los Angeles Lakers, and would then become the team to beat out East.

As for the OKC Thunder, they manage to pull off a deal that we’ve advocated they pursue in the past in swapping out George Hill for Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz.

Last season with the Sixers, Milton showed that he has what it takes to both properly run an offense as well as perfectly mesh alongside other players that are considered to be the focal points.

While filling in for the injured Ben Simmons last season at point guard, the 24-year-old posted impressive averages of 13.7 points and 4.2 assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the floor and 47.5 percent shooting from deep.

He would easily come in as the best option to run alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt and, with their respective ages and rookie-scale contracts, could prove to be a very solid and inexpensive guard tandem moving forward.

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