During the highly publicized Ben Simmons fiasco in Philadelphia, the 76ers had a number of trade options. In the end, they ended up with James Harden.
Given the situation and everything that’s happened since, acquiring Harden was not a bad return. Even if things didn’t end well, he did better than Simmons would have. However, what makes things worse is wondering where the Sixers would be had they acquired Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton instead — since he was an option.
In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey confirmed that Haliburton was on the table but explained why they passed on him.
“Yeah he was [offered]. A lot of people will say no after the fact, but he was,” Pompey said. “The Sixers just always knew they were going to get James Harden. Everyone in that building wanted Harden.”
At the time, Haliburton was on the Sacramento Kings. Coincidentally, the Kings traded Haliburton to the Pacers around the exact same time the Sixers traded Simmons for Harden.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20. Harden did not work out in the way the Sixers hoped. Even if he didn’t get them where they hoped and only lasted in Philadelphia for a season and a half, at least he is not on a contract that would restrict the Sixers’ cap flexibility like Simmons’ would have been.
However, Haliburton has experienced more success with the Pacers this season alone than the Sixers have in any year they’ve had Joel Embiid. Knowing what those two could have been together as a duo makes one wonder if the Sixers could have finally gotten over the hump — or at least advanced further than the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
