The Nets and 76ers are nearing a deal that would send James Harden to Philadelphia and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn.
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According to ESPN, the Nets and 76ers are making headway on a potential deal that would send James Harden to Philadelphia and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn.
The additional players the Sixers would be prepared to send with Simmons are still being explored, both to even out the trade monetarily and to aid the Nets down the stretch. According to ESPN, Brooklyn is searching for “two or three additional components” in addition to Simmons.
Philadelphia would also need to clear financial space in order to sign Harden to a contract extension, which might need the involvement of other teams.
The deadline for trades is this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
Despite the fact that Nets head coach Steve Nash dismissed suggestions that Harden may be dealt with earlier this week, the star guard has been more dissatisfied in Brooklyn. After the 2021-22 season, Harden will be a free agent.
Behind Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving, the Nets were anticipated to challenge for the NBA title. However, Durant is out with an injury, and Irving is only playing part-time due to his unwillingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the Nets have dropped nine straight games to collapse to eighth place in the Eastern Conference and the play-in spot.
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Harden, 32, has been out with a hamstring strain since a defeat to the Sacramento Kings on February 2. He just scored four points on 2-of-11 shooting in 37 minutes, but he did have 12 assists and seven rebounds.
Harden has appeared in 44 games this season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game.
Simmons has requested to be moved after not playing this season. Mental health difficulties and an inability to mix on the floor with teammate Joel Embiid were allegedly mentioned by Simmons’ camp as reasons for wanting to depart.
Simmons, 25, has been a three-time NBA all-star in his four seasons in the league, averaging 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in 275 games, all with the 76ers. The Sixers selected him first overall in the 2016 draught out of LSU.
