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The James Harden state of affairs in Brooklyn seems to be quickly deteriorating. He appeared checked out within the Nets‘ loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings final week, throughout which he scored simply 4 factors in 37 minutes; he is reportedly annoyed about having to carry so much of the load like he did in Houston with the Rockets; he hasn’t signed his extension, and final month there have been reports he’s thinking of leaving the Nets in the offseason.
Add all of it up, and you may perceive why the Nets, who’re at the moment on a seven-game dropping streak, are at least willing to discuss a Harden-for-Ben Simmons swap with the Philadelphia 76ers forward of the commerce deadline. There is definitely no assure such a deal will get completed, nevertheless, particularly not with Kevin Durant pushing for the staff to maintain Harden.
Right here is the most recent from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday:
He believed that they might win a number of titles with Kyrie Irving and James Harden. That is why Kevin Durant pushed so laborious to get Brooklyn to make that take care of Houston final yr. And he nonetheless believes that. However he additionally believes this very strongly: that Harden and everybody else in Brooklyn goes to should be dedicated to this as he is been. You’ve got seen the extent KD’s performed at from final yr, via the Olympics, via what was maybe an MVP season this yr.
James Harden has advised Durant, he has advised Nets administration that he desires to be there. They’re taking his phrase for that. The commerce deadline is Thursday. Kevin Durant just isn’t telling the proprietor Joe Tsai, the final supervisor Sean Marks what they need to do on the deadline. He is letting them deal with that. However he believes this: when he comes again from this knee harm, someday in all probability after the All-Star break in February, he desires a bunch there that’s as dedicated as him to profitable these titles. He completely desires to proceed with James Harden, keep the course with him. I believe there’s nonetheless an actual good probability that is the case after we get previous Thursday.
You possibly can add head coach Steve Nash to the listing of people who find themselves towards a commerce. Talking to reporters on Sunday forward of the staff’s matchup with the Nuggets, Nash was requested if the staff would commerce Harden and responded, “no.” Pressed for clarification in a while, Nash reiterated his comments.
Durant has been sidelined since Jan. 17 with a knee harm, and will not be again till someday after the All-Star break. With out him on this stretch, the staff is simply 2-8, and has dropped all the best way right down to sixth place within the Jap Convention. The Nets are immediately in peril of being in a play-in event spot.
Between accidents to Durant and Joe Harris, who could also be out for the season, the Kyrie Irving saga — he can nonetheless solely play in choose street video games as he stays unvaccinated — and Harden’s discontent, the Nets are a large number proper now. It is no shock the entrance workplace is contemplating all potentialities, however buying and selling Harden for Simmons, who hasn’t performed this season, just isn’t the kind of deal you can also make frivolously.
In spite of everything, regardless of the entire issues the staff has confronted, the Nets are 24-12 when Durant is within the lineup. They don’t seem to be the overwhelming title favourite they as soon as had been, however with a wholesome Durant and Harden they’ve pretty much as good a shot as anybody on this wide-open season. That is purpose sufficient to remain the course, and Durant pushing for that possibility is simply additional incentive.
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