The Hidden Gem of the James Harden Trade

When Daryl Morey dealt James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers, the return package looked like a means to an upcoming move. Marcus Morris Sr. and Robert Covington didn’t look like players in their prime. Nico Batum was about to turn 35. The other roster players didn’t look like they’d be key contributors.

Credit Nick Nurse and the group of role players for flipping that narrative quickly for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid will dominate the headlines. Tyrese Maxey is a breakout star. However, one player has quietly become arguably the most valuable role player on the roster.

The 16-year NBA journeyman has brought size and versatility to the Sixers rotation. He’s become a regular in the starting lineup, averaging over 25 minutes per game just past the midway point of the 2023-24 season.

He’s exceeded his statisstical career average significantly, shooting over 50% in limited field goal attempts. Batum can take advantage of open space when defenses flock to contain Philadelphia’s stars, and he can feed Joel Embiid in the post smoothly.

Kelly Oubre Jr. has brought some athleticism to the rotation behind the top scorers, and Batum has brought the size both on the perimeter and in the paint.

Bob Cooney spoke on 97.5 The Fanatic live from the Sixers Youth Foundation Gala on Jan. 17. He made a comparison that will stir the emotion of Sixers fans wounded by a failed free agent signing of the past.

Nick Nurse also spoke on The John Kincade Show in December about supplementary players in their first season with the 76ers. He praised Batum as a key part of a strong supporting cast behind Embiid and Maxey.

The words of Daryl Morey don’t suggest the Sixers will make a big splash before the NBA Trade Deadline. Remarkably, the developing chemistry of their in-house options might eliminate the need for a big move.

Credit Nico Batum as arguably the top driving force behind the surprising supporting cast inspiring optimism within a previously exhausted Philadelphia fan base.

Fans of the Philadelphia 76ers remember “The Process” all too often. It seems like a new narrative somehow emerges every season drawing a connection to Sam Hinkie and his unusual roster-building strategy.

The Process became a lightning rod topic in Philadelphia sports radio and around the NBA beginning when the 76ers made an unexpected trade at the 2013 NBA Draft. Hinkie sent Jrue Holiday and a second-round draft pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nerlens Noel and the 10th-overall draft pick in 2014. 

The resulting era of Sixers basketball became the most (in)famous rebuild in the history of professional sports.

Brett Brown coached some pretty terrible teams during The Process years. Records for NBA futility became much more prevalent than playoff contention.

The front office might’ve ignored the results with a larger focus on improving odds in the NBA Draft Lottery odds. However, the games still existed. Brown's rosters consisted mostly of G-League-caliber players and players on 10-day contracts. He still got his team ready to take the court. 

Philadelphia fans still remember the names of players who stepped on the floor with their professional basketball careers at stake. Some of them actually carved out NBA careers given the wide-open opportunity for playing time and chances to take the ball.

The Sixers finally decided they were ready to compete with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons as their centerpieces entering the 2017-18 season. The Process will always live in infamy in Philadelphia fandom.

The most incredible stat of The Process era came from Tony Wroten. He became the first player in NBA history with a triple-double in his first career start. The Sixers beat the Rockets in overtime on Nov. 13, 2013 behind Wroten’s shocking effort.

Wroten had the most ridiculous stat line in the matchup against the Rockets. Anderson came close with a career-high 36 points.

Varnado had a few cups of coffee around the league before The Process began. He played 23 of his 37 career NBA games for the 76ers in 2013-14.

He didn’t last long, but Casper made it to the show. He averaged 5.3 points in nine games for the 76ers in 2013-14.

Sims used his 6-foot-10 frame to average double figures in 26 games for the Sixers in 2013-14. He hung through the 2014-15 season.

Poor Hollis Thompson. He played 256 games for the 76ers, and the front office didn’t try to put together a team to win a single one of them. He left Philadelphia the first season they started trying to compete, and he only played nine NBA games the remainder of his career.

You probably didn’t see it coming at the time. JaKarr Sampson carved out a nice NBA career for himself. He played the last of his 236 NBA games in 2020-21.

He was a sensation for a few short months. It looked like Hinkie struck gold in the second round, but the timing didn’t work out. The Sixers traded McDaniels at the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline.

He’s the second-most famous Furkan associated with the modern era of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brandon Davies had a good career at BYU. He went on to play 71 of his 78 career NBA games for the Sixers in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The Sixers acquired Alexey Shved as part of the trade that sent Thaddeus Young to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He only lasted for 17 games in Philadelphia.

Take advantage of a team that needs someone to take shots. There’s nothing to lose. Ish Smith used opportunities during The Process to help him become a true journeyman of the NBA with stints on 13 NBA teams.

It’s tough to play point guard and distribute the ball to players that a front office doesn’t believe should compete in the NBA. Isaiah Canaan did it for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Sixers.

Marshall bounced around with three NBA teams before becoming a victim of The Process. He played his final 30 games in the NBA for the 2015-16 Sixers.

The Spanish point guard never failed to excite 97.5 The Fanatic play-by-play announcer Tom McGinnis. He played 68 games in 2015-16, the final season of the tank.

Byron Mullens had averaged double figures for the Charlotte Bobcats the previous season. He didn’t find his groove in 18 games with the 76ers in 2013-14.