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Who are Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin? Here’s who the Sixers got for James Harden.

The Sixers got a haul in return for James Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev. But mostly, they got flexibility for the future.

New Sixers forwards Robert Covington (23) and Nic Batum (33) defend during a game against the Houston Rockets.
New Sixers forwards Robert Covington (23) and Nic Batum (33) defend during a game against the Houston Rockets.Read moreEric Christian Smith / AP

It may have taken a few weeks longer — and included a few more embarrassing moments — than most Sixers fans had hoped for, but the James Harden saga finally ended early Tuesday morning. Daryl Morey sent the malcontent guard, his best friend, P.J. Tucker, and big man Filip Petrušev to the Clippers in exchange for a flurry of picks and four players: Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, and KJ Martin.

Here’s a closer look at what the Sixers are getting in the trade:

Marcus Morris, PF

Age: 34 | Experience: 12 years

Contract: $17.1 million, expires at end of season

2022-23 stats: 11.2 points (on 42.6% shooting) and 4.0 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game

Morris, who has been away from the Clippers for personal reasons, is no stranger to Philadelphia — and not just because of his many past battles with the Sixers. Morris — and his twin brother, Markieff — are Philly natives who played their high school ball at Prep Charter. In his 12-year NBA career, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound Morris has gotten around, making stops with the Clippers, Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Rockets before returning home. For his career, he has averaged 12.3 points in 783 games, but the big man isn’t afraid to step outside and shoot some threes, which he hits at a rate of 37.6%.

» READ MORE: Sixers updates: Reaction to James Harden trade; every player and draft pick swapped with the Clippers

Robert Covington, SF/PF

Age: 32 | Experience: 10 years

Contract: $11.6 million, expires at end of season

2022-23 stats: 6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game

The trade to Philadelphia is also a bit of a homecoming for the three-and-D player. While he didn’t start his career with the Sixers, he did spend his formative — and arguably his best — NBA years here before being included in the 2018 trade that brought Jimmy Butler to Philly. Covington grew into one of the best defensive players in the league, and was named a 2018 first-team All-Defensive selection. At 6-7, 209 pounds, Covington brings some versatility on the outside, as he’s tied for seventh in the league in steals this season.

» READ MORE: James Harden trade gives Daryl Morey, Sixers enough pieces for another star hunt | David Murphy

Nic Batum, SF/PF

Age: 34 | Experience: 15 years

Contract: $11.7 million, expires at end of season

2022-23 stats: 6.1 points (39.1 3P%), 3.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game

Batum has 15 years of experience, but the Sixers are just the fourth team he will play for in his career. In those 15-plus seasons, Batum (6-8, 230 pounds) is averaging 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, but those numbers have dwindled in recent years as he has seen his playing time dip. What hasn’t dipped is his three-point shooting, where he hit at a nearly 40% clip during his last three seasons with Los Angeles.

» READ MORE: The key to the James Harden trade isn’t who the Sixers got. It’s who they already had: Tyrese Maxey. | Mike Sielski

KJ Martin, SF

Age: 22 | Experience: 3 years

Contract: $1.9 million, expires at end of season

2022-23 stats: 12.7 points, 56.9 FG%, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 28 minutes per game.

Martin, by far the youngest of the group, had just started his Clippers career after being traded there this offseason. Now, the 22-year-old son of former NBA star Kenyon Martin is on the move again. Over his three years in Houston before the trade to L.A., Martin averaged 10.5 points (54.5 FG%) and 4.8 rebounds in 24.3 minutes.

» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are showing that the surprising Sixers can survive minus James Harden

The picks

Perhaps the most important part of the deal — aside from the fact that all of those players are on expiring contracts — is the draft capital the team received, which Daryl Morey can use in a number of ways as he looks to reshape this team around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The Sixers also landed four draft picks, including a pair first-rounders, and a pick swap. Here’s a full look at their draft haul, which even has the Oklahoma City Thunder getting in on the deal.

  1. a 2024 second-round pick

  2. a 2026 protected first-round pick (via OKC)

  3. a 2028 unprotected first-round pick

  4. a 2029 second-round pick

  5. a 2029 first-round pick swap