Ben Cooper | Sports Editor
February 27, 2022
The NBA trade deadline has passed, and a flurry of moves has altered the landscape of the league.
Superstar guard James Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks.
This trade has been rumored over the past few days, but Harden was unwilling to formally request a trade. He gets his wish, however, and will create a powerful duo with superstar Joel Embiid. The Nets’ big three of Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant did not perform as hoped, but they will now attain a controversial player in Simmons. While a defensive monster and great playmaker, Simmons’ inability and unwillingness to shoot the ball have hampered his potential.
“I thought it was very good for the league because I’m getting tired of the same teams,” senior Haze Brawner said. “I’m excited to watch Harden with his new team and see Ben Simmons finally play.”
The Nets and 76ers will both be title contenders, and this trade affects the roster construction of both teams. Philadelphia has a legitimate superstar next to Embiid, while Brooklyn acquires a defensive beast and role players.
“The trade can be valuable for both teams,” senior Nathan Alonso said. “Harden and Embiid can be a dangerous duo as they both excel at scoring. Simmons will fit well with a healthy KD and Kyrie, as he is a good passer. His defense will be a big plus for the Nets and help them get to the next level.”
This was the biggest trade, but many other moves went down that change the structure of the NBA. Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, and Jeremy Lamb were sent to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson, and a protected 2023 second-round pick.
The Kings will now look to build around a DeAaron Fox and Sabonis duo while the Pacers support Haliburton. Both teams are making this trade to retool their roster for the future.
The Portland Trail Blazers completed reshaped their roster, trading away CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package surrounding Josh Hart and draft picks. Portland gets an elite scoring guard to pair with their young stars in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. For the Blazers, they free up cap space for the summer and acquire a young wing to fit with the team.
The surprising trade was Kristaps Porzingis being dealt to the Washington Wizards with a second-round pick for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Washington takes a chance on a big man, who is extremely talented but inconsistent.
The Mavericks acquire a guard that plays off the ball in Dinwiddie to pair with Luka Doncic and a shooter in Davis Bertans.
The other moves around the league were for role players, but insignificant compared to these deals. This trade deadline shifted strengths in the NBA and will heavily impact what team comes out on top.
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