The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting on a pair of draft picks that were once considered premium assets-two future first-rounders from the LA Clippers in 2028 and 2029, the latter via a pick swap. Those picks were supposed to be the kind of long-term lottery tickets that could help reshape a franchise. But after a recent shakeup in LA, their projected value just took a potential hit.
The twist? It’s all tied to the same blockbuster trade that sent James Harden west to Los Angeles.
In a follow-up move, the Clippers landed All-Star guard Darius Garland, injecting youth into a veteran-heavy roster without veering off their win-now path. That’s a rare balance to strike in today’s NBA, and it could have real implications for Philadelphia’s long-term plans.
Because while LA doesn’t control much of its own draft future-including those two picks now in Philly’s hands-they’ve shown no signs of leaning into a rebuild. In fact, the Garland addition might just keep them in the playoff mix longer than expected.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Clippers stumbled out of the gate this season, looking more like a team on the edge of collapse than a contender.
But since then, they’ve flipped the script. Kawhi Leonard has been leading the charge, and the team has surged back into relevance in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
At this pace, they’re not just play-in bound-they’re the kind of team no one wants to face in the first round.
That resurgence alone already started to cast doubt on the idea that the Sixers would be cashing in on high lottery picks down the line. But Garland’s arrival throws even more cold water on that dream.
He’s not James Harden-different style, different timeline-but he’s a decade younger and brings fresh legs to a group that’s been aging fast. If he meshes well with Kawhi and the rest of the roster, LA could stay competitive longer than anyone thought.
And here’s the kicker: the Clippers still have options. Veterans like Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, or even Ivica Zubac could be flipped for younger assets or draft capital.
That flexibility gives LA a path to retool on the fly, extending their window without blowing things up. It’s a delicate dance, but so far they’re pulling it off.
For the Sixers, that’s not great news. When they acquired those Clippers picks as part of the Harden deal, the long-term bet was that LA’s aging core would eventually fall off a cliff, turning those selections into potential gold. But if the Clippers can manage a soft reboot around Garland and Kawhi, those picks might land closer to the middle of the first round than the top.
So while James Harden may have left Philadelphia months ago, the ripple effects of that trade are still being felt. In a twist of irony, the move that sent him packing could end up weakening the very draft capital the Sixers received in return.
It’s the kind of long-tail consequence that front offices always have to weigh. In the short term, the Sixers are still contenders in the East. But down the line, they might look back and see that Harden’s departure-followed by Garland’s arrival-quietly chipped away at what once looked like a treasure chest of future assets.