NBA Trades: This wild Mavs, Clippers, and 76ers deal must happen ASAP

It wouldn’t be the NBA offseason without several blockbuster trades, and this summer has already seen a blockbuster with possibly another on the way. However, a proposed three-team trade by Fanspo involving the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers could prove to have a bigger impact on the NBA than the Bradley Beal deal or a Damian Lillard trade.

In theory, the trade could help all three teams, each of which has struggled to build a championship roster around its best players. Be that as it may, three-team trades are harder due to the number of moving parts. Let’s take a look at the hypothetical deal involving the Clippers, Sixers, and Mavericks.

This wild Mavs, 76ers, and Clippers deal must happen ASAP.

Mavericks Get

Ivica Zubac

Robert Covington

Clippers Get

James Harden

Javale McGee

Furkan Korkmaz

76ers Get

Terance Mann, Norm Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr.

2027 first-round pick (via Dallas)

2028 first-round pick (via Clippers)

3 second-round picks (via Clippers)

After Dallas missed the playoffs last season, the pressure was on to improve their roster. They made an incredibly smart draft night deal where they managed to trade back from 10th to 12th, select the player that they wanted, and create a trade exception by moving Davis Bertans. That allowed them to acquire athletic big man Richaun Holmes, though it leaves them with several centers, including JaVale McGee.

With McGee being superfluous, they could move him, and in this deal, they’d manage to upgrade by adding Ivaca Zabac in addition to Robert Covington. That would cost them a first-rounder and Hardaway Jr., but they would get better defensively, which would allow them to solidify their starting lineup.

NBA Trades: Philadelphia 76ers

Although the Sixers would be giving up the best player in the deal, they would be well rewarded. Philadelphia would receive Terance Mann, Norm Powell, and Tim Hardaway Jr., as well as two first-round picks and four second-round picks. In the short term, that would lower the Sixers’ ceiling, but swapping out an aging star for three rotation players and four picks is a great way for their team to reload without tearing it down.

Of course, they have Joel Embiid as well as Tyrese Maxey, and the Sixers would have more picks than most of their competitors. If another star were to become available, they would have an edge over another contending team or they could look to retool through the draft.

NBA Trades: Los Angeles Clippers

Last but not least are the Clippers, who would add former MVP James Harden to their star-studded roster. While All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard can’t seem to stay healthy, the Clippers could add a third star in Harden to help offset the inevitable 30-plus games that each will miss next season.

Additionally, they re-signed Russell Westbrook, who put up big numbers in their absence last year. Adding Harden will cost them three rotation players, three second-round picks, and a first-rounder, but they’d add a third star, a useful, cheap, and athletic big man in McGee, and a rotation player in Forkan Korkmaz. With Los Angeles’ title window closing inch by inch, adding Harden would help prop it open for another season or two and should be at the top of their off-season to-do list.

Whether this deal ultimately happens will largely hinge on the 76ers, who seem hesitant to trade Harden. Be that as it may, were the deal to occur, all three teams would be better for it.

• Published on 07/11/2023 at 8:00 AM EDT
• Last updated on 07/13/2023 at 10:49 AM EDT