Nets general manager Sean Marks said the decision to move on from James Harden was a difficult one, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“Make no bones about it: We went all-in on getting James Harden and inviting him to the group,” Marks said during a video conference call discussing the trade deadline Friday afternoon. “And these decisions to move on from a player like that, of that caliber, are never easy ones. I just want to be clear that this is not something that you think, great, let’s just make a split decision and move on from that. I give James a lot of credit for having open dialogue, open discussions with me and with the group, [Nets coach Steve Nash] and [owner] Joe Tsai and everybody over the last 24, 48 hours.
“Again, I said they’re not easy, but I think that’s something we pride ourselves on is being open and honest. James was honest with us and we were honest with him. I think it’s a move that enables him to have a fresh start, enables this team to have a fresh start, without trying to push things to make things work. If we realize this is not going to work, short-term or long-term, then it’s time to say for both parties involved, this is better off.”
Marks went on to say that trading Harden wasn’t about the team’s 10-game losing streak, it was based on his entire tenure in Brooklyn, and the newly-acquired players help the Nets in ways that Harden couldn’t.
“It’s not just eight or nine games,” he said. “The things that we’ve had to deal with over the course of the last year since James has been here is, to be quite frank, the Big Three, quote unquote, haven’t had significant time to play together for a variety of different circumstances. So, I think the frustration is more in that than in eight or nine games. Obviously it was not, and it currently isn’t, trending in the right direction, but we’re not going to make a decision off of one, two, five games, whatever it may be. The sample size has to be bigger. And at that point, we’re sitting here saying, ‘Yeah. We’ve seen enough.’ On both sides.
“We obviously thank James immensely for everything he’s done. Let’s be honest, he’s come in here and set all kinds of Brooklyn Nets records in such a short time. He’s a hell of a player, without a doubt. Again, these are not easy decisions, but we’re very grateful for what James has done over his short time here, but at the same time, adding these three players — Seth [Curry], Andre [Drummond] and Ben [Simmons] — help us in needs James doesn’t fulfill.”
When asked if the Sixers tampered by talking to Harden, Marks said that was for the league to decide.
“Unfortunately, the world we live in right now, so much of this is being played out in the media,” Marks said, per Bontemps. “So much of this is, whether it’s scuttlebutt, hearsay, and so forth, it’s just the nature of the beast. It’s just the nature of the world we’re in. I’m not going to start making accusations at everybody else. Again, this particular set of circumstances was played out in the media far earlier than any conversations were ever had. I don’t know and again if this is where it ends up, that will be completely up to the league to look into these set of circumstances.”
There are several more interesting quotes from Marks in Bontemps’ article. I recommend checking it out.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Kyrie Irving said there were hints that Harden was unhappy in Brooklyn, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays. “I can’t really say that you feel that [unhappiness] in the locker room, but we get hints,” Irving said. “So we just wish him well. We want him to be ultimately successful. Now we move forward with the guys that are coming in. We’re excited. I just want everyone to be happy and do things they love to do, and be a part of things they can see themselves being successful at. It probably wasn’t here with us and he made a choice and we respect him for it. No love lost.”
- Nets guard Patty Mills said that his fellow Australian Simmons is in a good place at the moment, Lewis writes in a separate article for the Post. “He’s in a really good place right now, speaking to him a fair bit lately and seeing what he’s been up to in terms of staying ready and getting his body right and getting game ready,” Mills said. “So it was good and pleasing for me to see and feel where he’s at. From that standpoint, you get a really hungry person who’s looking forward to playing basketball again, and especially with our group.”
- Nash was reflective on what could have been with the “Big Three” era, per ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “You’re up 2-0 against the NBA champs, and then to not have James in the first games and then Kyrie in the last games, James being on one leg, Jeff Green being out of the lineup, all sorts of things that hampered our opportunity to win,” Nash said. “To take them to overtime in Game 7, you definitely think there are some what-ifs, but that’s life. You can’t look back. You’ve got to look forward.”
My speculation from 76ers
Step 1
Talk to Rich Paul
Step 2
Ask Rich Paul to talk to Durant
Step 3
Ask Harden to request the trade
Step 4
Tell the public
Step 5
You know it
What a class act from all those involved in the Nets organization from the owner all the way down to KD, Kyrie, and Patty Mills.
I would have told him to kick rocks you unhappy, bandwagon troll..Way to quit on us when the going got tough too, but why am I not surprised it’s always been ALL ABOUT James Harden..From OKC, HOU, Nets, and now Philly..
Anyways, good luck, as we beat you in the playoffs!! lol
Kyrie still mentally in outer space though.
What Simmons insisted on is being traded to a team where he would be top dog. I’m not sure how well he will mesh with Kyrie. He also will have difficulty with the NYC media. He has a much higher opinion of himself than reality yet won’t put the work in to improve. I wouldn’t want him on my team.
Simmons took a lot of abuse during that play off loss last year. You can’t blame him from wanting out of Philly. Teammates to GM to fans, whipped him verbally because of that series. Any young player wouldn’t want to go through what Simmons did. Teammates are your family and they turned on him. All of Philly turned on him. Now Philly can live with it going forward. Buckle up people
Good read
It seems that Nets are exciting to send Harden out
This trade is gamble
There is a chance that 76ers 2023 pick is top 5
You select Doncic or Young, you win
Updated NBA Championship odds Feb 10
Brooklyn Nets +420
Golden State Warriors +460
Phoenix Suns +500
Milwaukee Bucks +600
Philadelphia 76ers +650
76ers trade away 2 Firsts to move up to 5
Nets will be really good and this move was great for them. Harden was going to leave regardless. Their core was Kyrie the part time player, full time diva. KD who has had multiple injuries but is still a top 5 player easy. With Harden wanting out, Harris being injured, Ladridge getting very old, Millsap wanting out, Griffin not living up to expectations they had to make the move.
Ben gives them one of the league best defenders, someone that can help facilitate, rebound and I believe will add a shot to his game. Curry is an elite shooter, and Drummond is an elite rebounder. Sean Marks is bang out, it fills their needs. It also adds to the future with Ben being young, and the two first round picks.
This team should be one of the best shooting teams in the league. They should rebound really well, they should score at ease, they will be hard to stop and particularly in the clutch they will do well in tight games at full strength.
There’s a lot to like here.
As a Sixers fan I wish we had kept Curry and rather given up Thybulle and possibly kept a first.
We should’ve also got Bembry thrown into the deal, given him a chance and if we didn’t like for whatever reason then everyone else can claim him. The two first rounders I don’t really care about. The first is unprotected but will fall around 20-30 in the draft and the other is protected but will again be a late first unless something crazy happens. Drummond I liked him off the bench but I think we replace him easy. Our front office has always done well getting a reserve big men for cheap. Tony Bradley, Dwight Howard and then Drummond.
On paper you can word it however you want.
You could say we gave up the league best defender, one of the best shooters, one of the best rebounders and two firsts for a fat declining guard over 30 who is getting overpaid.
Or you could say we gave up a bum that wouldn’t play all year, a shooter and two late firsts for one of our generations best scorers of the ball, former MVP, a top 10 player in the league James Harden. Who has lead the league in assists and scoring multiple times and also swapped bigs.
Either which way Sixers fans are happy and Nets fans should be happy too.
Hope you’re still happy when Embiid hurts Hardens feelings and he’s requesting his 3rd trade in less then 3 years. If you haven’t read about his time in Houston when Westbrook got there you really should. Westbrook treated it like the military, Harden treated it like after hours at his favorite strip club
Just wait and see. Harden and Embiid both like to have fun and have huge personalities but on the court both are focused on winning basketball games. Just you wait and see
So far the track record has been every time harden has had to play with other stars he wants out and doesn’t play well with others.
Doesn’t play well, pretty sure him and CP3 almost beat the Warriors in their 72 win season or something.
He’s also never played with an elite centre like Embiid it’s always been ball dominate guards
@Simmons>Russ. From watching Houston for many, many years. I can agree he doesn’t play well with others. He has to be the #1 ego and talent in the team. CP3 Westbrook. All had differences of opinion and then Morey who was Hardens lap dog made silly trades.
I love harden as a player and he did a lot for The rockets. But the be optimistic of him with a character like Embiid and fans as fanatic as Philly? I just can’t see it. I may be wrong and he may get a ring. But from his history, he’ll be gone or convincing Morey to trade Embiid before we know it!!!!
Curry was more redundant than Thybulle with bringing in Harden though.
As a Sixers fan, I think both Harden and Simmons have character issues. Simmons won’t work on his shooting. Would have preferred The Sixers hold out for Beal. Will miss Curry and Drummond.
I understand Harden’s frustrations with Kyrie and his time in Brooklyn as a whole, but this has everything to do with getting back in with Morey for him. I was on his side until the deal, but now I see how Nets management is handling it and the comments from Nets players, and it makes you question James’ contribution to this mess.
Still celebrating the fact that we didn’t give up Maxey or Thybulle when there’s been one loud mouth that doesn’t know basketball on here that kept spouting that we’ll have to give up Maxey. Wrong! Lol
According to nba TV, 76ers are willing to send 2 first round picks but not Thybulle.
I don’t believe that.
Thybulle is only worth 1 first round pick.
I would keep Drummond and 2023 First, and trade away Thybulle.
Don’t understand the thybulle fetish. He can’t shoot and he is only a year younger than Simmons. Nets fleeced you guys LOL.
Don’t know why people hate on Harden so much. Harden was loyal the Rockets for 8 years and gave them the best years of his career. He never let his contract expire and just signed extensions. They got close but just couldn’t get past what is the Golden State buzzsaw. The new ownership got cheap then they forced his coach and his GM to resign. The Rockets had plateaued and honestly him leaving was the best for both.
He forced a trade to Brooklyn but between his, Kyries and Durant’s injuries we got to see them play 12 whole games. Then with Kyrie’s BS I could see how he got frustrated. I’ve found that if your not happy it’s just best to out of a situation before it festers. Just rip off the band-aid, it’s not like he screwed them over. They got an All-NBA talent , a great role player and 2 firsts. He gets a chance to still compete. The 76ers get their star guard to pair up with Embiid.
Yea I agree with you. Harden catches a lot of flack for a guy who clearly wants a ring more than anything. I can’t really blame him for team hopping at this stage in his career.
Lol at some of the takes in here…most of u have been wrong for so long. Might as well keep trying, even a broken clock is right twice a day
BRK made out like bandits, the great robbery of the 21st century, that is what we just witnessed!
BRK gets a great player like Ben just entering his prime & signed at a very friendly long term contract.
A great center in Drummond, who has played amazing so far this year, like 9 rebounds in 15 minutes of play all season long!
2 first round picks & a non-factor role player (Curry)
Meanwhile PHI got, one of the greatest players ever, yes Harden is unbelievably good, but… way on the wrong side of 30, getting injured way too often, overpaid & about to get sooo much more overpaid that it will decimate PHI’s chances to improve!
Millsap this year just seemed like a shadow of himself…
So there is no world were PHI has done any good with this trade.
BRK is in a great place right now & when they decide (finally) that it is time to stick it up to the awful city of NY & get Kyrie playing all the home games again, KD gets healthy & Ben catches his rhythm, that is gonna be one scary team!
Ben is an incomplete player. I truly wish ppl would stop calling him elite. He did a great job holding Trae Young to 5 of 13 shooting in game 7 but guess what? Young still scored 21 points to Ben’s 5 points. That’s a +16 differential plus Young had 10 assists and won the game. You can’t be a $200 mil player who ONLY contributes on one side of the ball. Yes.. he passes but he needs to be more aggressive. He’s not that guy. Overrated.
Dude called Simmons contract friendly lol.
Were you wearing your Nets footy pajamas while writing this lol. 35 million a year for a guy who you can’t have out there in crunch time. Dude is so fragile. We’ve seen that on and off the court.
Philly much more likely to win a chip because of this trade.
Harden is onto his 4th team. He still had a few more years before he retires. He still has a chance to play for Miami, LA, Boston, and hang them up in Golden State
Brooklyn will never win with their “3” stars having the most fragile egos in sports. There has never been an easier team to root against.
Has there ever been a more unlikable team??
For someone talking about fragile egos you seem pretty sensitive over 3 adult men you’ve never even met before….
@LilD (Haha)
you’re the one gushing over 3 adult men. You’re being sensitive lil guy.
Yeah pointing something out makes you guilty of the same lol.
Not sensitive at, I want lose any sleep if by some miracle they do win.
There’s no Lebron or Curry to lean on for those guys.
Lakers have always been easy to hate especially after Kobe raped that girl. The dynasty warriors team was easy to boo and hate because they had so many bandwagon fans. Clippers when they had cp3, Blake griffin and deandre whined after about every single call made in a game.
Easiest team to hate, & deservedly is PHI for the way they treated Ben Simmons, right?
How exactly did they treat Ben Simmons?
The coach criticized his poor play in the playoffs? Haha awful how dare they not coddle his fragile ego. I’m not a sixers fan but Embiid is very likeable and an unbelievable talent. Can’t stand Harden but he’s the least insufferable out of him, Kyrie and Durrant.