NBA Trades: The best piece in any James Harden-Ben Simmons trade

After reports (subscription required) that the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets could engage in a potential Ben Simmons-James Harden deal before the trade deadline, NBA media has been abuzz with ideas on what the transaction may look like.

It’s been well acknowledged that, despite being older and bothered by a mixture of inconsistent form and nagging injuries this season, Harden has far greater value in the trade market.

Therefore, there’ll be more pieces involved, with names like Tyrese Maxey, Seth Curry, and Matisse Thybulle becoming prominent in discussions.

NBA Trades: Which complementary pieces should the Brooklyn Nets be targeting in a potential James Harden for Ben Simmons deal? Conversely, which players should the Philadelphia 76ers be desperate to hold onto?

Many see Maxey as the most valuable piece outside Simmons, as he’s been having a career season putting up 16.9 points per game. In a vacuum, that’s the right approach, as Maxey’s potential outweighs the defensive prowess of Thybulle and the elite shooting of Curry.

However, this isn’t a young, rebuilding team looking for the greatest value and potential in return for their star player. This is the Brooklyn Nets who, despite recent struggles, are a bona fide title contender.

With that in mind, it’s actually Thybulle who may rest as the more intriguing prospect for the Nets. At present, Brooklyn sits with the 19th best defense in the league, a far reach from the top 10 defense many believe is required for a team to win the NBA championship.

Brooklyn’s below-average defense isn’t surprising given the roster’s lack of a notable defensive presence. Or because of the lack of at least one defensive-minded player that Steve Nash can trust for 30+ minutes a game. By adding Simmons and Thybulle, Brooklyn could transition into a very good defense come playoff time.

Simmons, for all the hysteria he’s been a part of in the past six months, is undoubtedly elite on that end. As for Thybulle, you could easily argue he’s the best perimeter defender in the entire league.

Thybulle’s 37.6 defensive field goal percentage is ranked first amongst players to have played over 20 games and been the primary defender on 10+ attempts per game. Additionally, he also holds the best defensive three-point attempt percentage at 20.6 percent.

If healthy and somewhere near their best, one could question Brooklyn’s need for Maxey or Curry’s offensive output. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, and Patty Mills, along with Simmons’ playmaking, the Nets should still be elite on the offensive end. The problem is that there are question marks on four of those five players, whether due to injury or external reasons.

Philadelphia could realistically prioritize keeping Thybulle over Maxey for similar reasons. The latter’s elevation this season has, in large part, been thanks to Simmons’ absence and the subsequent increase in usage rate and overall opportunity.

Acquiring Harden to pair with Joel Embiid would reduce Maxey’s role within Philadelphia’s offense. With those two, Tobias Harris, and possibly Seth Curry and Danny Green, does Maxey’s productivity, as good as it is, become surplus to requirements?

Ultimately, Brooklyn should ask for Thybulle and Maxey, along with Simmons, in exchange for Harden. With the growing possibility of adding Harden to a prime Embiid playing at an MVP level, one could expect Daryl Morey to accept that deal.

It’s a blockbuster deal that could theoretically make both teams significantly better, made all the more fascinating by the fact they’re Eastern Conference rivals.