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A 3-team trade package to get James Harden on the Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Reed

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 08: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Heat 116-108. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 08: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Heat 116-108. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff run ended sooner than expected and now Los Angeles Lakers fans have to hope that the team doesn’t hire Doc Rivers when he is eventually let go by Philly.

However, the Lakers and Sixers could be connected in another aspect as well. Philly has a huge decision to make this offseason with James Harden’s potential extension. Harden has regressed as a player but the 76ers traded all those assets for him. If the 76ers do sign an extension, the idea is that Harden would opt into his $47.3 million player option for next season and sign a four-year, $223 million extension on top of that.

If the Sixers do not want to extend Harden then he will likely gauge the market. Not wanting to lose him for free, the Sixers may look to pull off a sign and trade, and that is where the Lakers come in with Russell Westbrook.

Don’t get me wrong, the 76ers have absolutely no use for Russell Westbrook. However, if the two teams can loop in a third team that theoretically wants to dump salaries for an expiring then the Lakers could get Harden, the 76ers could get assets in return and that third team could get salary-cap relief and future assets.

The 3-team James Harden trade that the Los Angeles Lakers could pitch:

The Lakers send Westbrook to the Knicks, the Knicks send their contracts to the 76ers and James Harden goes to LA. In this trade, the Lakers send their 2027 first to the Knicks as well as a pick swap in 2028 (that way they keep their first for the Steipen rule).

This is definitely a polarizing trade and I do not blame any fans for hating this deal the second that they see it. However, there absolutely is a case to be made for all three teams to make this trade. In the following pages, we will break down why the Lakers could say yes to making this trade and why the others teams could as well.

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