James Harden won’t make his debut with the Sixers until after the All-Star break, the team announced today.
As Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com relays (via Twitter), Harden will continue to rehab a minor left hamstring injury, receiving treatment and participating in on-court training. The 76ers will provide an update on the star guard’s status following the break.
After being acquired from Brooklyn last Thursday in the biggest trade of the NBA season, Harden sat out the Sixers’ home games vs. Oklahoma City on Friday and Cleveland on Saturday. He’ll also miss Tuesday’s game vs. Boston and Thursday’s contest in Milwaukee. The earliest he could suit up for the 76ers would be February 25 in Minnesota.
Harden’s ongoing absence means he’ll also miss this Sunday’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, so commissioner Adam Silver will have to name a second Eastern Conference replacement. Previously, LaMelo Ball was selected to replace Kevin Durant.
There are a number of good candidates to take Harden’s spot, including Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown. I think Allen is the favorite to get the nod, but it’s possible an additional replacement will be required for Zach LaVine, who is seeing a specialist about his knee injury.
The Nets haven’t issued an update on Ben Simmons‘ status, but he also appears unlikely to play this week. That means we probably won’t see either of the two stars involved in last Thursday’s blockbuster between Philadelphia and Brooklyn suit up with their new teams until at least late February.
He was at sixers practice today moving around and putting up shots. He looks fine just precaution I would think
He was fine until he saw the media takes on how he would magically recover after he was traded, so he fell down in shock at the disrespect and landed on his feelings.
After the break, his feelings shouldn’t hurt so much and he will be ready to rock the nay sayers.
Foreshadowing…
Adam Silver won’t pick Allen.
I think he has a good chance because the game is in Cleveland, but Siakam is the most deserving.
Silver will pick Ben Simmons…that’s how the NBA works
He just did.
Allen should replace Hardean. Then Siakim or Brown can replace LaVine. Probably Siakim
Spelling is hard, huh?
Hard not to be impressed that he nailed spelling LaVine.
Brown was an easy lob, but don’t tell me you’re not impressed not to see Laveen or some other creative rendition.
BREAKING NEWS: Ben Simmons will sit out until after the Nets play 76ers in Philly on March 10th. Also, when Nets player 76ers in the Playoffs, Kyrie will not play home games and Ben will not play away games.
wow do you have a source?
trustmebro.com is his source
I can see Ben waiting to sit out. He is very fragile.
When the playoffs come around (if Brooklyn makes it) the fans will be all over Ben in the playoffs. Can’t hide then. You have to face the music at some point.
**The Philly fans will be all over Ben (if the two squads face each other)
Okay well saying you can see something hypothetically vs it being fact are different things so…
I am intrigued by how this is going to play out.
In my opinion it is pretty obvious Ben is suffering mental health issues. I think his performances in the play-offs, post playoff press conferences and the way he was (at the end) viewed by the organisation and the entire fan base has screwed him mentally (soft or not)
At the end of the day (especially given this trade) he has to overcome these demons or retire (he will have zero value) He is at the crossroads.
The Nets need him playing – they also have a lot veterans on this roster to walk him through it – with added motivation of Harden on the other team.
I think if KD is back he might suit up – a therapy game. Limited ball through his hands on offence and just give it to Harden on defence. The new rules don’t just work against Harden, they suit Ben as well.
The crowd is just going to pour jet fuel on the fire if he does suit up and no matter what the outcome, these teams will hate each other for years. I seriously can’t wait!!!
A real shame as the most deserving guy in the EC for an All-Star spot is Sabonis, now in the WC!!!
Now the best player not in the All-Star, obviously not as deserving as Sabonis but here we are is Siakam & the next one to cover for ZLV is Allen… any other replacement, if required must be Vucevic!
Why people must mention players like Jrue or JB is a real puzzlement that can’t be explained with any logic behind it!