Early Tuesday morning the 76ers traded guard James Harden, along with forward P.J. Tucker and reserve Filip Petrušev, to the Los Angeles Clippers, ending a months-long saga that began right as last season ended. In return, the Sixers got Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris Sr., former Sixer Robert Covington, K.J. Martin, and multiple future draft picks.

Whether or not the Sixers were going to keep or trade James Harden has been the overarching storyline surrounding the team since they reported for camp a little under a month ago. After a Summer where the star guard, while in China, called Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey “a liar” and stated that he would never play for his organization again, it was fair to question why Harden was still on the Sixers roster come training camp and if there was ever a chance of working things out between the two sides. Once he reported with the team to fly to Milwaukee for the first game and road trip of the season, but was told he was going to stay back and not travel with the team, it became clear his days in Philly were numbered.

One of the main reasons that the Sixers and Daryl Morey became so willing to part with Harden, especially in a deal that doesn’t get you a star in return, is because they believe they have someone already on the team ready to take that next step and become the star that plays alongside reigning league MVP Joel Embiid.

That someone is this week’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Tyrese Maxey, and Maxey told NBC Sports Philadelphia after practice on Tuesday that this group has been “keeping the main thing, the main thing” and “this is just another step in the right direction.”

Three games into the season, Maxey is averaging 30.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 6.3 assists per game for the Sixers, playing as their starting point guard. I would say that also qualifies as a step in the right direction, after averaging 20 points per game last year and 17 points per game the year before. Especially as the Sixers are looking for someone to fill those shoes as the star next to Embiid. It is no secret that the NBA is a star driven league and in order to compete you need at least two stars at the top of your roster. With Embiid and Maxey both averaging over 30 points per game three games into the season, the early results show the Sixers have theirs.

Sixers Head Coach Nick Nurse called Maxey “really good” when asked about the 22-year-old guard after practice on Tuesday to NBC Sports Philadelphia and called this “a tremendous opportunity” for him. Maxey credits him being, as his coach puts it, really good to none other than James Harden himself. That is why when Maxey found out about the trade Tuesday morning, he texted Harden right away. He told NBC Sports Philly that he “told him I love him, told him I appreciate him.” Maxey credits Harden with making him more aggressive and confident in himself. Giving Maxey the belief to go on those scoring outbursts that Sixers fans have grown affection for. “He took me under his wing, taught me a lot of things as far as being a professional in this league and how things go, so I appreciate him, I love him,” Maxey added.

It is fair to question whether or not the Sixers have what it takes to compete in the East with teams like Milwauakee and Boston, but they still have the reigning league MVP with a coach who is known for having the ability to get the most out of his group. And now, with Maxey taking the step forward that many hoped he would and the James Harden saga over with, as long as the Sixers can just keep on keeping the main thing the main thing, this fun start might just be a precursor to a fun season. For Maxey and the team.

-John West Jr./ Olde City Sports Network