The Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday completed a trade that sent James Harden, P.J.
Tucker and Filip Petrusev went to the Los Angeles Clippers for two future first-round picks, a swap of first-round picks, two second-round picks, and Marcus Morris Sr.
Nicolas.
Batum, Robert Covington and Kenyon Martin Jr.
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey explained what ultimately prompted the long-rumored trade.
“We really set the bar high in June when James asked for a trade,” he said.
“We said, ‘Look, if we can get to that point, that would usually allow you to go out and sign a player.
‘ The fact that a player like Jrue [Holiday] chose a similar package is a validation of that.
So we set that standard and obviously it came together when the Clippers got to that price point and that’s why the trade happened at that time.
” In mid-October, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Sixers told the Clippers they would accept an offer from an unprotected first-round pick, trading first-round picks Terance Mann and contract is about to expire (for salary balance purposes).
), but the Clippers continue to balk at bringing Mann in.
Amick added that the Sixers have planned a trade in which they would receive a first-round pick for Mann.
“The Sixers’ goal from here will be to include these assets in their next bid for the All-Star caliber player they select at the end of the season,” Amick reported.
Morey actually confirmed this information on Wednesday.
“We’ll see how this list develops,” he said.
“Coach Nurse has a lot of decisions to make about who to play, how to use them.
Let’s see where the gaps are and now we have a good base of assets and a lot of flexibility for the season next season to continue to improve the team.
Once James has requested a trade, that’s where we hope to end up.
”
