Philadelphia 76ers
On the surface, the Philadelphia 76ers seem like a pretty unlikely landing spot. But if they do end up trading James Harden, the belief is that they’re going to target another All-Star-caliber guard to replace him. Perhaps DeMar DeRozan could be a fit. He’d make sense as a veteran scoring option but the big question is whether he’d fit next to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. The spacing could be a concern but DeRozan is a better playmaker than he gets credit for.
If the Sixers are looking for somewhat of a quick fix, DeRozan could emerge as an option. As an expiring contract, the Sixers wouldn’t be that invested in DeRozan and could let him walk during the offseason if the move doesn’t end up working out. DeRozan would also get a chance to compete for a championship with Philadelphia. It’s a possible experiment that would work for both sides.
I’m not sure if a trio of Maxey, DeRozan, and Embiid would make much noise in the Eastern Conference but it may be worth the gamble considering the team’s current circumstances.