Analyst: Boston Celtics rival won’t have chance at poaching offseason splash in FA
The Philadelphia 76ers won’t get the chance to steal away the marquee offseason acquisition for the Boston Celtics, Jrue Holiday, in 2024 free agency according to All 76ers’ Justin Grasso — who feels the Cs will inevitably sign their floor general trade splash to an extension.
“Holiday would’ve been a valuable replacement for Harden for the upcoming season and beyond, but the Sixers weren’t getting very far in trade talks with the Blazers over the last few days,” Grasso prefaced before saying, “Now that he’s on the Celtics, there’s a good chance Philadelphia’s former first-round pick locks in a long-term extension at some point, leaving the Sixers looking at other prospects for the future.”
The Sixers are stuck with an unhappy James Harden for now, but it’s a certainty he won’t be on the roster past the trade deadline if a team doesn’t make a move for him ahead of the 2023-24 regular season first.
Clippers came up in Jrue Holiday discussions before Boston Celtics landed PG
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Clippers were offering Terance Mann in trade negotiations for Holiday before the Boston Celtics swooped in and landed the five-time NBA All-Defensive Teamer.
“Sources tell me the Clippers have been offering one unprotected first-round pick and a pick swap for (James) Harden … The Sixers have been valuing Terance Mann as well as multiple first-round draft picks.”
— The Rally (@TheRally) October 5, 2023
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on the latest with Harden. pic.twitter.com/NACU48guZJ
“Terance Mann is a guy that has gotten a lot of value around the league, that’s an attractive piece across the league,” Charania prefaced before saying, “That’s a guy that’s name also came up in conversations that the Clippers had with Portland around Jrue Holiday.”
Mann might be an overvalued piece by the Clippers considering he likely wouldn’t have gotten a Holiday deal done without many draft picks attached, and is probably not the kind of piece that should be holding up a Harden deal if L.A. is convinced The Beard is the final piece that’ll get them over the top.
With that said, the Clippers could be playing a genius long game by simply allowing Harden and the Sixers to have such a falling out that his trade value is minimal and a release is necessary; facilitating a guilt-free signing for L.A.’s front office.