The Brooklyn Nets are falling apart more and more each and every minute, which could mean great things for the Philadelphia 76ers. Ever since the Ben Simmons for James Harden swap, the Brooklyn Nets have been seemingly falling apart at the seams. Ben Simmons refused to come back and play during the playoffs, and Kyrie Irving continued to be a part time player all while Kevin Durant attempted to will the Nets through the playoffs.
Now, with the breaking news that Irving may potentially be leaving the Brooklyn Nets for nothing, the rumors have started to spin on whether or not Kevin Durant would stay with the Nets.
The Philadelphia 76ers are a logical fit for Kevin Durant’s next chapter as he would pair back up James Harden, a player who has been highly regarded by him as evidenced by their time in Oklahoma City as well as Brooklyn. Durant would also pair up in the front court with the true MVP in Joel Embiid, making the most dangerous power forward/center combo the league has ever seen.
The 76ers would instantly be title favorites if Kevin Durant came to Philly in order to join up with Maxey, Harden, and Embiid. For Durant, he would go to a team filled with players willing to play through injuries, rather than sit out with back soreness.
Kevin Durant would be a perfect fit with the Philadelphia 76ers. He would join a team spearheaded by the best big man in the league in Joel Embiid. A man that Durant himself has openly admired and even declared the MVP. Also on the team is an extremely talented guard tandem in James Harden and soon to be All-Star Tyrese Maxey. Solid role players Matisse Thybulle, De’Anthony Melton, and Georges Niang round out a roster that would suit Kevin Durant perfectly.
Durant averaged 29.9 points per game last season while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.3% from deep. Matching Durant’s 29.9 points per game, which would have been tied for second in the league, with Embiid’s league leading 30.6 points per game, would make the 76ers an unstoppable offensive powerhouse, while Embiid continues to anchor an above-average defense, something the Nets offense could never seem to do.
While Durant’s large salary ($44.1 million) is a hefty sum to match in a trade, Tobias Harris’ massive contract comes in handy. Alone, Tobias’ salary is enough to match Durant’s straight up, while leaving enough wiggle room for the Sixers to throw in sweeteners like Jaden Springer and Charles Bassey or draft picks. There is a path to a Kevin Durant-76ers union, should that be something both the 76ers and Durant want and with Kyrie Irving potentially leaving to play with LeBron and the Lakers, I don’t see why KD would want to waste any more of his prime in Brooklyn.
