Through the extremely publicized Ben Simmons fiasco in Philadelphia, the 76ers had various commerce choices. In the long run, they ended up with James Harden.

Given the state of affairs and every thing that is occurred since, buying Harden was not a foul return. Even when issues did not finish effectively, he did higher than Simmons would have. Nevertheless, what makes issues worse is questioning the place the Sixers could be had they acquired Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton as a substitute — since he was an possibility.

In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey confirmed that Haliburton was on the desk however defined why they handed on him.

“Yeah he was [offered]. Lots of people will say no after the very fact, however he was,” Pompey mentioned. “The Sixers simply all the time knew they had been going to get James Harden. Everybody in that constructing needed Harden.”

On the time, Haliburton was on the Sacramento Kings. Coincidentally, the Kings traded Haliburton to the Pacers round the very same time the Sixers traded Simmons for Harden.

After all, hindsight is 20/20. Harden didn’t work out in the best way the Sixers hoped. Even when he did not get them the place they hoped and solely lasted in Philadelphia for a season and a half, no less than he’s not on a contract that might limit the Sixers’ cap flexibility like Simmons’ would have been.

Nevertheless, Haliburton has skilled extra success with the Pacers this season alone than the Sixers have in any 12 months they’ve had Joel Embiid. Realizing what these two might have been collectively as a duo makes one marvel if the Sixers might have lastly gotten over the hump — or no less than superior additional than the Japanese Convention Semifinals.