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James Harden would not need to ask the Brooklyn Nets for a commerce, however he hopes that they are going to ship him to the Philadelphia 76ers earlier than Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET commerce deadline, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Harden arrived in Brooklyn in a January 2021 blockbuster due to a commerce request, after spending 9 years with the Houston Rockets. He has performed simply 80 regular-season video games with the Nets — and simply 10 alongside each Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — and reportedly fears the general public backlash that might include asking out once more.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Brooklyn and the Philadelphia 76ers have been in “the deal zone” on a commerce centered round Harden and Ben Simmons. On Thursday morning, Wojnarowski reported that Sixers president Daryl Morey and Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks haven’t severely mentioned a deal, however that the groups are anticipated to speak earlier than the deadline.
A commerce could hinge on Morey’s willingness to incorporate belongings, past exiled guard Ben Simmons, wanted to persuade the Nets to unload Harden towards the price of creating the wage cap house to signal Harden in summer season free company. Philadelphia might re-engage the Nets on an opt-in and commerce technique within the offseason, too.
There’s danger for the Nets, too: After buying and selling key gamers and draft picks to amass Harden from the Rockets a bit of over a yr in the past, they danger preserving a disgruntled participant to aim a championship run this season — and the specter of shedding him for nothing this summer season.
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The Sixers have largely retreated on commerce deadline offers involving Simmons till they have readability on their means to incorporate him in a deal for Harden, sources stated.
Nets possession and administration need to win a championship this season and consider {that a} season revival awaits as soon as [Durant returns] after the All-Star Break. Brooklyn is resigned to the likelihood that Harden could need to depart, however desires his greatest route for a title this season and is prepared to deal with Harden just like the Raptors did Kawhi Leonard in 2019 — championship or bust.
There are variations between the Nets’ state of affairs with Harden and Toronto’s state of affairs with Leonard. The important thing gamers and draft picks talked about above included Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, three first-round picks and 4 decide swaps for Harden, who, in contrast to Leonard, had a number of seasons remaining on his contract and accepted of the vacation spot. The Raptors traded DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and one high 20 protected decide for probably the most profitable one-season rental in NBA historical past.
The similarity is that Brooklyn reportedly believes that, with Harden on the roster, it could win the title. Perhaps Joe Harris won’t want a second ankle surgical procedure, and, when he and Durant get wholesome, the Nets’ spacing points can be a factor of the previous. Perhaps they will commerce Harris — they’re exploring the market, per Windhorst — for an additional difference-making function participant. Perhaps New York Metropolis will chill out its vaccination laws and Irving can be out there to play in dwelling video games earlier than the playoffs. Perhaps, since Harden initially gave the impression to be all-in on this Massive 3, he would not depart a championship crew like Leonard did. Perhaps, as unusual as that is, every little thing can nonetheless work out.
The Nets are 29-25, eighth within the Jap Convention, severely shorthanded and on a nine-game shedding streak. If Brooklyn elects to maintain Harden regardless of his reported need for a commerce, it should illustrate the entrance workplace’s perception in its expertise when that expertise is wholesome, out there and dedicated. However there are apparent downsides to marching ahead with a disgruntled famous person who is usually a free agent in July. Will Harden change his tune and ask out earlier than 3 o’clock? Will the Sixers supply Tyrese Maxey and/or Seth Curry and/or Matisse Thybulle and/or draft compensation together with Simmons, thereby giving the Nets extra incentive to interrupt up a championship-caliber trio that has barely shared the court docket? These are the questions hanging over this more and more awkward state of affairs.
Talking of awkward: On Instagram, Durant liked a graphic posted by The Score that includes an excerpt of ESPN’s report.
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