The entire summer went by with one man at the very center – Damian Lillard. The Portland Trail Blazers icon, after letting his loyalty drain out was ready to move to the ‘next chapter’. Several teams, among which the Miami Heat were to be the favored destination for ‘Dame Time’. However, the clock spun in the other direction, a land that was never supposed to be in contention. The familiar tweet of Adrian Wojnarowski announced Lillard is heading to Milwaukee and joining forces with the two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The decision was met with despondency and distress. Jimmy Butler, the Heat’s transcendent star reacted to the news accusing the Milwaukee Bucks of possibly tampering. It could be true of course, but it only seems like a frivolous attempt to hide his gloom. For the Deers, it was a time of celebration but also heartbreak.

While they gave Lillard a cheerful welcome, their voices went heavy for Jrue Holiday. The five-time All-Defensive guard was a part of the package involved in the deal to bring in the lethal sharpshooter. You might think the organization was helpless, but that’s only a facade. In fact, Holiday was rather betrayed, and this moment could be capitalized on by one man who is seeking an urgent exit from his current home.

Giannis Antetokounmpo willingly sacrificed Jrue Holiday for Dame Time

It’s become a common theme in the NBA these days. The foundation talents can manipulate the roster at will. Fans have punished LeBron James for being an unofficial GM. Maybe it is time to subject Giannis Antetokounmpo to the same mirror. Before the blockbuster Lillard trade, Antetokounmpo was the franchise hero. His larger-than-life presence brought the sunshine of a championship back to Milwaukee. He did it the ‘right way’ everyone said. And it is indeed true.

He himself held the achievement with pride. Yet, when staleness arose, it evoked a different side of the Greek Freak. He pressurized the Bucks when he openly claimed to entertain moving on in the name of championship aspirations. The organization’s backs were to the wall. After all, they couldn’t afford to bid adieu to the ruthless force that is Antetokounmpo. So they had to conjure something to keep him invested.

Unfortunately, it came at the cost of Jrue Holiday. Yes, the Bucks were pushed into diving into their pool of stars to make the move. Yet there was one hand that could have pulled them back. Likewise, it was Antetokounmpo’s. Back in 2019, he stuck up for his close friend and long-time teammate Khris Middleton when he was proposed in an exchange for Jimmy Butler.

Here, the case might have been even more severe. Holiday had tied his roots to the city, assisted the 7-foot Greek warrior in winning his maiden title. Moreover, he had only just proclaimed his passionate affinity with the Bucks. “I don’t want to play for any other team,” he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “I think we have a chance to continue to do great things as the Bucks team and organization, so I want to be in Milwaukee.”

Despite his moving words, the Bucks showed him the door with no sign of Giannis Antetkounmpo intervening. You can argue that Lillard is a major upgrade. He is probably the most dangerous man when in his notorious groove. He wears an invisible watch for when it is time to win games from out of the impossible. But what about defense?

Holiday’s inclusion added a two-way dynamic that made the Bucks an impenetrable wall. They had Antetokounmpo lurking in the paint to erase anything that was thrown. Holiday was tasked with weakening the opposition’s best scorer. It was a symbiosis that led to a championship in their very first season. If we look at the bigger picture, the Bucks might bleed out without a tenacious stopper.

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As the outcome is decisive, Jrue Holiday leaves with cherishable memories, those filled with moments of bliss. His next chapter still remains uncertain as Portland is reportedly looking to immediately ship him away. And there is one man who is salivating at the opportunity – James Harden.

The escape route for James Harden

Harden’s story with the Philadelphia 76ers has been rocky. Convinced it was his championship destination, he took a major pay cut to allow the Sixers to welcome PJ Tucker into their family. It was a selfless move for the ultimate prize. As is well known, he and Joel Embiid just couldn’t capitalize last season. His MVP teammate was barred with injuries, leaving The Beard alone in the chase.

Nevertheless, Philly fans didn’t panic. They showed confidence in the group running it back for the next season. The union of Harden and Embiid was to be the tandem that finally completes the ‘process’. That was until Harden’s promotional trip to China. After talks with the Los Angeles Clippers fell apart, the 10-time All-Star dropped a bombshell.

“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” he said in front of hundreds of his fans.

From there began another ugly saga, one resembling his past with the Houston Rockets. No comments were made by the organization. Weeks passed and then the NBA intervened. They fined Harden for publicly demanding a trade. Just like that the power shifted back into the Sixers’ hands.

Both parties are still resilient. On one end, the 76ers are reluctant to find a trade for the maverick star. Likewise, James Harden is adamant on never playing for Morey with reports even claiming he will miss media day. Apart from feeling sad for Embiid, it has put the team in an awkward and detrimental zone. If nothing is done, they simply have to play a side that is weaker than last season drowning their hopes of contending.

However, that might not be the case after Damian Lillard’s league-shaking trade. According to multiple sources, the Sixers are heavily interested in welcoming back Jrue Holiday, who played his first four seasons with the organization. The Trail Blazers are backing their young core and want to dismiss Holiday immediately. If all aligns, an agreement could benefit both sides.

For the Sixers, it is almost a no-brainer to offer James Harden. No scenario will see them part ways with a young and blossoming Tyrese Maxey. Yet, they need enough leverage to lure Portland which can be done by cutting off ‘The Beard’.

Harden becomes the perfect catalyst for the Sixers to rise from a broken, gloomy hole and reemerge as contenders. Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders with polished playmaking skills. He has proven to thrive in a pick-and-roll system as seen in his bond with Giannis Antetokounmpo. He can play a similar role for Joel Embiid, while playing savage defense to disturb the opposition’s ball handler.

For Portland, they get a veteran who can commandeer the young guns, like Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. Harden will relive the days of his one-man offense on the Houston Rockets, being the center of attention with branches of curious talents surrounding him. Additionally, he can play mentor to the group that is trying to cope with the loss of a franchise hero.

It is the perfect switch, but it depends on Harden’s wishes. Will he want to be shipped to a place where he won’t be able to compete and risk a career without a championship? He will most certainly have the platform to raise his individual accolades being the keystone of an organization once again. But is it worth the stain on his legacy?

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From an organizational standpoint, it is the perfect trade scenario. Philly would rather break their punishing demeanor and not risk losing Embiid sooner rather than later. For Portland, they get a glue for their raw talent. Yet the only man who could suffer is James Harden. But after all that he put the Sixers through, Morey might exact his revenge by throwing his former prized pupil far away from even the bleak hopes of ever winning.