Nets star James Harden would like to be traded to the Sixers, but hasn’t formally asked the Nets to move him, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
As Wojnarowski explains, Harden’s reluctance to make a trade request stems from a fear of the public backlash he would face for trying to force his way to a new team for a second consecutive season.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer previously reported that Harden wanted to be traded to the 76ers.
According to Wojnarowski, Harden is hopeful that the Sixers and Nets will be able to work out a deal prior to today’s deadline that sends him to Philadelphia, with Ben Simmons and other assets headed to Brooklyn. However, sources tell Woj that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and Nets general manager Sean Marks have yet to engage in serious dialogue on a deal.
There’s an expectation that the Nets and 76ers will talk on Thursday, so there’s still a possibility that the two sides could come to an agreement, Wojnarowski reports. However, Brooklyn would likely want a collection of assets beyond Simmons — Seth Curry, Matisse Thybulle, and future first-round picks have been repeatedly cited as pieces that would appeal to the Nets.
Both sides will have a handful of factors to take into account as they weigh whether or not to make a deal today. If Harden truly wants to go to the Sixers, Philadelphia could afford to be patient and try to land him as a free agent in the offseason when they wouldn’t necessarily require the Nets’ cooperation. Clearing the cap room required to sign Harden outright would be tricky, but not impossible, so Brooklyn may feel some urgency to get something in return for the All-Star guard today rather than risk facing that scenario this summer.
On the other hand, if and when the Nets get healthy, their roster as currently constructed has more championship upside than the Sixers’ roster does. Philadelphia may feel some pressure to get something done today in order to get Joel Embiid help to contend for a title this year, rather than face the possibility of having an asset like Simmons remain on the shelf for the rest of the season.
According to Wojnarowski, the Sixers have “largely retreated” on other trade discussions involving Simmons until they determine one way or another whether they can move him for Harden.
If the discussions between the Nets and Sixers hit a dead end today, it’s still possible Philadelphia will hang onto Simmons until the summer. More trade options, including a renewed opportunity to land Harden, could be available to the team at that point.
Harden, who hasn’t played since last Wednesday due to a minor hamstring issue, didn’t accompany the Nets to Washington for Thursday’s game vs. the Wizards, tweets ESPN’s Zach Lowe. Wojnarowski mentions in his story that Harden’s ongoing absence has led to speculation that he’s “purposely shutting down to send a message on his waning desire to remain with the Nets.”
OMG!! It’s back and forth with these Harden trade rumors! Nothing is going to happen…. The Nets and the Sixers are both stingy and ask for too much.
Nets ask for Simmons, Curry, Thybulle and 2 Firsts
Ball is on 76ets hand
What a mook.
thanks O.G. I learned a new word. Limited as I am, I was going to go w/ POS.
Simmons, Curry, Paul Reed and a 1st. NO THYBULLE!
I’m shocked, shocked I say.
Frankly, at this point I don’t even care if a deal ultimately gets done. Just enjoying the fireworks.
Cowardly turncoat
Nets would be so dumb to move him gave up your future for him. Nets have all the leverage rather to trade him now or the offseason tell him come back and play and if your still not happy move him in the offseason trading him now makes you a lot worse you aren’t a title contender anymore moving him to Philly.
“Nets would be so dumb to move him gave up your future for him. ”
Ah, the old sunk cost fallacy. I do get it, but there’s no way the Nets have all the leverage here as Simmons is under contract for several more years so there’s no immediate need to ship him off while Harden is a mere rental. Even a sign-and-trade won’t be enough to recoup value, as how many teams would be eager to sign a temperamental, increasingly injury prone aging star to a long-term max?
It’s a game of chicken, and both sides have some leverage for various reasons.
Agreed that PHI has a bluff to call here.
The Portland moves might make it possible for Morey to send Simmons to PDX (for their “retooling”) with almost nothing coming back. Then attach a 1st to Tobias and send him to OKC.
That would be like Def Con 17 for Brooklyn because if they lose Harden for nothing and Kyrie opts in unvaxxed yet another KD season will be wasted.
Having said that, Beard loses I think 62M if he signs w/ Philly outright as opposed to a S/T. And Philly loses their 3rd best player for nothing in order to sign him.
Harden could just leave in the offseason and you could end up with nothing and he still ends up on the Sixers. If it makes it to the summer your risk losing him for nothing.
No nets wouldn’t get nothing for Harden Sixer have no cap space only teams with Cap space are rebuilding teams lol Sixers have no space salary cap exist. He could go there in the offseason in a sign and trade so the Nets would get something.
Trading harris to okc does it
Yeah, the 76ers would have to do a sign and trade for Harden in the offseason but then you’re getting even less. You’re at the mercy of whatever the 76ers be willing to give up. At that point, the 76ers could turn around and give Tobi, Green and filler and that’s it. Or Harden leaves somewhere else for nothing.
Of course – and then they’d finally be able to have the big 3 of Simmons-Harden-Embiid, right?
Philly has *some* leverage. But not much. Harden can make more money resigning with Brooklyn than anyone else – he might light a few candles but he won’t burn that bridge.
Lol, did you read the report, he doesn’t want to be with the Nets. He wants to be with Philly. The 76ers have all the leverage. The only leverage the Nets even have is how urgent the 76ers want Harden to compete for the championship this year otherwise there’s no leverage for the Nets.
The 76ers have zero leverage Nets have all of it what are you taking about?
Lol I could just imagine sixers turning Harris into Harden. Genius morey! And then Simmons is flipped for someone else probably better than Harris.
Morey isn’t that stupid he has a backup plan in case if the Harden deal doesn’t go through. You’ll see Tobias get moved. He’s not like in Philly so he is on his way out eventually then the Sixers still end up with Harden and Nets end up with nothing and no assets.
The nets have leverage now, they have zero in the offseason though. It is not that hard to free up cap space in offseason if you are willing to attach picks.
The Nets don’t have much leverage now though either. They’re only leverage is denying the 76ers being able to get him for this year’s playoff run. That’s a dumb gamble. They should take Ben and Curry which is more than they should get and be done with it.
Freeing up cap space not only requires picks … but also players. Namely Tobias Harris – who would still be the 3rd best player on Philly after Harden and Embiid.
Harris gets flack with good reason but he’s still a vital part of Philly’s team – more so than Curry Thybulle or even Maxey at this point at least.
Harden doesn’t want to play with Kyrie. That team was built to implode.
Man has played with KD, Russ, Kyrie, CP3, and great role players just about his whole career! Doesn’t matter what team he goes to at this point he just doesn’t have it in him for a ring.
He’s played with Russ and KD twice (once altogether and each one separate) and still can’t win….lol
I think the desire is twofold. Everyone in Philly has bought-in to Jo and winning. (Soft serves exlcuded). Not the case in Brooklyn. Kyrie is doing Kyrie things. Also you have a ring chaser like Milsap also wanting out it just is a different vibe.
Secondly, his relationship with The Eel.
Dilemma for the Sixers… do you waste a playoff run without Harden this year by waiting until the offseason?
I’m fine with giving up Tbybulle in a trade this season, but not Maxey or Curry, and I prefer to send Furkan and Shake out. You can’t deplete the whole bench in a Harden deal. You can probably do Green, but you need to replace that 3 and D.
Hard to think about sending your 3 best wing defenders out in one trade.
Sixers are also looking at tax implications. They could add at least 9M in taxes.
The urgency is definitely on Philly’s side here, although I’m sure Morey is telling everyone he’ll dump Ben in PDX and Tobias in OKC to light a fire under BK.
But if I’m Brooklyn … I don’t know. The league is wide open, and if I have a healthy Harden and KD, even with 1/2 a Kyrie and no Joe Harris, I still feel like I have a good of a chance as anyone to win a ring.
Do I feel that way with KD and Simmons and 1/2 a Kyrie? Probably not. So I think I’d take the one last shot at a ring w/ Beard this Spring and then give him what he wants come July.
@buttholesurfer69 There’s a little urgency for the 76ers but most of it is on the Nets. Harden is disgruntled and doesn’t want to be there. His play is already reflecting that. They don’t think about a healthy Harden helping them because they know he’s disgruntled. They know their chances are screwed this year with a disgruntled Harden & 1/2 a Kyrie
@phillyballers I rather trade Curry than Thybulle. Curry will be pushed to the bench why Harden here. Thybulle is a starter
Maybe Durant will one day write a book that admits what a sap he was for signing and believing his compadres were all-in on winning a title or two. What a giant mistake
If 76ers trade the Nets Thybulle it defeats the purpose of doing the trade for this season. The 76ers won’t be able to defend the Nets (or Bucks). It better just be Curry and a pick or two.
T
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Said it before and I’ll say it again… The 76ers don’t need to include Maxey or Thybulle. Bye bye Nets leverage. Can’t wait for the resident knows nothing about basketball poster that keeps saying Maxey has to be included… Lol
Bro explain how the Nets have no leverage?
read the situation? the dude wants out and is being a problem.
@Sports
If the Sixers want a point guard back then yeah it’s a problem.
Interesting that Windhorst reported yesterday that Harden would love for a trade to happen and Woj threw water on it. Usually I would go with Woj on something like this…
But it definitely seems like there are multiple factions in Brooklyn that are throwing out info and disinfo to reporters alike.
I don’t think Woj ever dismissed the idea that Harden wanted a trade, but he’s been pretty consistently skeptical that one will actually happen this week.
Woj was skeptical that they were talking on a deal. Theres no talking just Windhorst trying to drum up something for Klutch.
Windbag takes his orders from Klutch, which presumably wants this deal to go through. He wouldn’t care what anyone with BKN says about it.
Woj, I have no idea, in part because I have no idea what he’s actually saying (other than that Windbag is fabricating this, nicely of course).
@Dxc
what’s the point of Windhurst spreading lies if there’s little to no chance of a trade happening? what’s the benefit for Klutch or Ben?
I didn’t say he did. Maybe he believes it, and/or its real. I merely said if he’s taking direction, its from Klutch, not BKN. I’m certainly not saying that because it comes from Klutch it’s a lie. But it’s usually a view that’s from their perspective (they’re human).
Maxey is Fool’s Gold for many 76ers’ fans. He scores 25, while the teams loses everytime Embiid sits out, so people think he’s a star. Maxey, on court, is less valuable to a Harden/Embiid duo than either Thybulle or Curry. The 76ers should drive Maxey to Brooklyn if it means keeping Thybulle.
You clearly don’t watch 76ers basketball if you’re arguing Maxey is less valuable than Curry. Maxey’s ceiling is sky high.
So you’re saying that with their best player out then it’s Maxey’s fault they lose even when he’s had the good game?
Bucks and Heat must enjoy the sh*t show …
Amen.
Team basketball is back! One, two or three old star players eating up a good portion of the payroll won’t work anymore. And quality NBA players want to be a part of the team – not do the grunt work for the stars, and get blamed when things don’t work out. Heat, Bucks, Bulls, Cavs, Grizzlies, etc. is the present and future of the NBA.
Haden is a terrific player when healthy. But he is 33 years-old, has slowed down some, and has/will get a contract that will eat up a large percentage of his teams payroll.
The Rockets needed financial flexibility to take a step back and get better. The Nets need to do the same. So now the Sixers are going to back themselves into a corner as well? I get the championship run thing. But apparently Morey intends to leave his job in the next few years.
Right now, the leagues best talent are mostly all stuck in lousy situations. And, it ain’t great for the league. Lebron/Davis crippled by Westbrook. Durant/Harden crippled by Kyrie. Embiid crippled by Simmons. Joker crippled by the injuries to Murray and Porter jr. Lillard stuck in a rebuild. Paul George/Clips reduced by Kahwi’s injuries. Doncic stuck in the Mavs mess. Beal in that mess in Washington. Towns stuck in dysfunctional Minnesota but maybe they’ve finally put it together. Has GS finally beat the injury bug? The league should allow teams to waive 1 contract every 5 years (still paying player tho). It’s entertainment and the league is better when the star players are on well functioning teams with other top players.
Yes, and that’s why team basketball is back.
It’s no longer a star league featuring entertainment (and trash talk / politics / controversy) as the star players treat the NBA (and its fans) as a travel team, playing with their friends. It’s a professional sports league featuring basketball.
Most posters on here need to adjust.
Sorry for the stupidity but why does he want out of Brooklyn? All healthy they are top team in East. Is he not fond of Irving or Durant?
2 parts. 1. Healthy, they haven’t even played a 1/2 season together healthy and KD has been consistently hurt the last 3yrs. 2. Irving is part time unless NYC suddenly changes their vaccine mandate then Irving will always be part time. Do you think you can beat Milwaukee or Miami in a 7 games series if it at best Irving plays 4 games.
Vaccine mandates are hurting the strip club scene in NYC
This seems like a good move for both teams fit wise, hopefully they stop having a pissing contest and make it happen. I think that Harden and Embiid would be fun to watch and obviously the Nets are gelling at the moment. Win win for both sides at this point.
*Aren’t gelling
Harden doesn’t want to play with Kyrie. That team was built to implode.
Philly needs this deal, not BKN. Marks, on his own, doesn’t do it unless it’s on his terms, and for the owner to sign off on it would require a Marks sell job and a resulting sea change in his thinking. Whatever Simmons brings, it’s not a better chance at a championship than BKN has with Harden, Durant and 1/2 of KI this year. So, an alternative vision worth 150 mm has to be put out there.
#FreeBenSimmons
#FreeJamesHarden
Of course Harden is the better player… but he is the worst contract & no more than a few months left… Ben’s contract is great, he is younger & a long contract ahead…
To me this means that you do a one for one plus some salary filler from PHI to compensate Harden’s extra money, maybe Green or a lesser player, & that’s all folks!
Technically, Harden has another full year at $47M+ guaranteed that he could opt out of. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to throw that away without an extension.
see now I want to wait until the offseason where Brooklyn has even less leverage.
Something tells me he’d be a nice fit for Phillychussets. Instant contenders with him in the lineup. End the Simmons-saga too once for all, he’ll do fine with the Nets.