A number of NBA reporters have expressed skepticism that a James Harden/Ben Simmons mega-deal will come to fruition this week, citing sources who say it almost certainly won’t happen. However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst remains bullish on the possibility of the Nets and Sixers figuring something out before Thursday’s trade deadline.
[RELATED: Sixers, Nets Engaged In Trade Talks On Tuesday]
Appearing on ESPN’s Greeny with Mike Greenberg (video link), Windhorst said the two teams are “absolutely” talking and negotiating possible terms, and suggested Harden would welcome a deal.
“Yesterday, the 76ers were out looking for other moves, talking to other teams about other moves – moving players, opening roster spots – leading those teams to believe that they were getting ready to make the (Harden/Simmons) deal,” Windhorst said. “They have swapped offers, and really right now it’s about haggling (over) the ancillary parts.
“Now, does that mean it’s absolutely going to get done by tomorrow? No, I can’t say that. I’m not sitting in the room. It’s complicated. … But they are in the ‘deal zone’ right now, and so I am leaning toward this probably happening. I don’t want to guarantee it or anything, but I think we’re headed in that direction.”
In an appearance of his own on Greenberg’s show, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link) cast doubt on his colleague’s reporting.
“I try not to do the prediction business because you follow the news where it leads,” Wojnarowski said when asked about the likelihood of a Harden/Simmons swap. “But right now, there’s no negotiation going on between Philadelphia and Brooklyn. The trade deadline is tomorrow at 3:00, it can change. But the idea that they’re going back and forth that’s been surmised by some, I don’t believe that to be accurate. … I think, barring a flurry of negotiations and activity that hasn’t happened yet, right now James Harden is likely to be with the Nets.”
Here are a few more trade rumors from across the NBA:
- Although the Kings continue to explore potential trades involving forward Harrison Barnes, they’ve told teams they’re not interested in packages heavy on future assets, per Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link). Sacramento remains focused on competing for the playoffs this season and would want players that could help right away.
- After a report on Tuesday indicated New York has shown interest in acquiring expiring contracts, Mannix suggests the Knicks could “jump in the mix” for Raptors point guard Goran Dragic. However, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link) says Toronto doesn’t see Evan Fournier as a fit. The Knicks continue to shop Fournier’s long-term contract around, tweets Steve Popper of Newsday.
- Grange also reports that the Spurs have rebuffed the Raptors‘ interest in center Jakob Poeltl and are seeking more than just a mid first-round pick and expiring salary in exchange for Poeltl.
- The Hawks have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, with players like John Collins and Danilo Gallinari cited as candidates to be on the move. However, a person familiar with the situation told Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that, as of Tuesday night, there was about a 90% chance that the Hawks would simply stand pat this week.
Trade ain’t happening. Move along people
Problems need to be solved ASAP
ESPN is not helping the teams to solve Simmons, Irving and Westbrook problems
Trade, trade, trade!
Windhorst getting sold a bill of goods (which he probably knows, but clicks are clicks) by Morey. Meanwhile Woj understands it takes two to tango and has contacts in the Brooklyn FO too.
These insiders get tunnel vision and get so caught up in reporter nonsense that they don’t see other possibilities until it hits the news cycle and everyone talks about it.
A lot of this centers around Shams and Ramona being essentially the PR for Clutch Sports saying whatever Rich Paul and Simmons want out there. Then there is all this Harden is unhappy stuff. Now all these reporters are acting like the only deal is Simmons for Harden.
Let’s not ignore the fact the Blazers are blowing it up with McCollum, Powell, Nance Jr. And Covington all traded. It looks like Lillard is much more likely to be traded this off-season. You also have things going poorly in Washington and Beal might reconsider a trade.
I can’t wait for Woj, Shams, Windhorst, Bontemps. Ramona, Lowe, etc in the upcoming weeks and months all of a sudden talking about Lillard or Beal trades as if it is some novel idea or as if new major info came out.
Sixers please oh please just give up Thybulle and a late first and then the deal will go through.
You know you can get him in FA but your still going to have to give up Ben and something to match salaries then anyways.
Atleast getting him now gives you a real chance this postseason to really go after it.
Thybulle would be a bad move. Harden isn’t a good defender and with Thybulle and Simmons gone your only good perimeter defender left is Green. Go ask Utah how it works for your only good defender to be a center.
Niang and Korkmaz are both decent defenders too.
As for the Jazz comparison. I would rather have Harden and Embiid than Mitchell and Gobert. That’s a pretty big difference
Im all in a Dragic and a heavily protected frp for two of Burks, Kemba and Noel. Free up some minutes and give us a playmaker for this season
I’m sure Raptors wouldn’t mind Noel plus either Burks or Kemba too.
As a Raptors fan, I’m good. Noel isn’t what he used to be defensively, and Burks and Kemba are just gross. They wouldn’t be part of the rotation here in Toronto, they’re just not good enough to play in Nick Nurses system. Noel is also owed a ton of money past this season, ditto Burks and Kemba. NY can keep their trash lol
Edit: I didn’t see you mention the FRP part of the deal. Thats just laughable. I was thinking it was Dragic for those 3 straight up, and I’m still good on that. No way that happens. It’s like some of you forget that Masai Ujiri is running the Raptors, not whatever dip shts are in the NY front office lol.
Why would U give up a first for dragic? You would give up a first just to see the knicks lose in the first rd. You are crazy. Save that first to get a player who might help us win someday. Dragic is old and is a fa at the end of the year. He wants to sign in Dallas even if it’s for minimum.
Whoa, u meant the raptors give up a first?!! For the bench of a non playoff team. Lol
Exactly LOLL. Knicks fans are delusional
@Theone13 Especially one in particular that posts in here.
A top-20 protected pick and a player who isnt even playing doesnt seem such a overpay for 2 good rotational players
If the Sixers stay put at the deadline and then go on to lose in the conference finals, who gets the most blame from media? Joel, Doc, or Morey? Or Ben I suppose
Morey.
And if he does not get Harden/Beal/Lillard in the summer he will most likely be fired and Embiid is looking for a new place to play.
Sixers are foolishly run. Have been for at least a decade since the Process Hinkie fiasco.
The Process Hinkie fiasco did what it was suppose to. It got them two generational talents in Embiid and Simmons. The problem is of the two only Embiid has shown that he wants to make the most of his unique talent while Simmons due to stubbornness or whatever is the exact same player he was when he entered the league.
Beal harden and lillard weren’t available. He tried to get all three. What did you want him to do???
link to hoopshype.com
Like I said ……. Maxey gotta be in it.
Been saying it all year. Moreyon got a big one for Harden. He is going down with him. Moreyon is so Overrated. My analytics tells me he sucks.
You don’t know anything though. Lol
Kyrie is the problem. Who wants to play with him? It’s not just this year, but last year too when he took off so many games for no good reasons.
I like Fournier and his shot. His D is an issue. But it’s magnified cause our overall team D is way down this yr. Randle is the one that needs to go. He is taking team down with. With his personal demons. It’s just boring at this point. I’ve had enough.
Go get Barnes. He can start with Obi1. Move Burkes and Quickley too. Then Cam will get his mins. Cam and Fournier can come off bench. They still will get significant mins.
Also they should be looking at Dinwiddie. Or an upgrade at starting PG. Kemba is an expiring contract, only 4 mill guaranteed next yr. Let’s go NY K.
Fournier has performed exactly how he has always performed. The fact that rose wants to trade him after just signing him shows rose don’t know what he’s doing. If you buy something, and it works exactly how you were told it would, u don’t get to complain and ask for your money back.
Well said. New York front office is incompetent, per usual.
Hate to say it, but I can’t argue with this.
The idea started with the Toppin pick in my book. Continued with the “continuity” mantra when they re-signed D Rose/Noel/Burks; grew when they grabbed Fournier; magnified with the Randle extension — then became a hum of white noise in the background with the Kemba signing.
I do not understand what they’re doing, or why anyone thinks clearing the books to make runs at FAs will work THIS time. We don’t need to blow cap dollars on FAs, we need to detonate it and start over.
Fournier isn’t going anywhere. First these are rumors. Realistically no one is going to give equal value now. Unless you attach sweeteners. It’s best to move him at end of yr. His shooting is still a premium we need. I’m fine with him.
“Yesterday, the 76ers were out looking for other moves, talking to other teams about other moves – moving players, opening roster spots
What other moves? The Sixers have really only one trade chip and that is Ben ‘Freaking’ Simmons!!
If the Nets deal falls though Morey will move Ben for pieces this year and clear salary, hell bring James in under the cap and flip the bird to the Nets.
Daniel is not guaranteed, Furkan, Niang, Shake, and Bassey will be gone. Hell clear out 22M that way. And both Ben and Tobias wouldn’t be here next year.
Hell figure out a way to get him without even dealing w the Nets if he has to. It’s his guy. He could also shock you and take less I doubt it but theres that possibility. Take the most they can offer so they can keep Tobias.
Collins for Julius! Get it done!
As a Hawks fan I would love this. The Knicks might also given the age difference.
I edited it because I am just so tough on Collins.
If the Hawks go without making a move I am good with it. I think now that most of the team is back and healthy they are playing better and anything can happen in the playoffs.
Glad to hear the Hawks might stand pat. I think they could improve their team, but most of the trades being thrown about are flat out horrible for the Hawks.
a) Gallinari for Gorin? Why? It might save Atlanta a little money next year, but without Reddish to extend do they need it?
b) 2-3 players, 2+ picks, and taking on one of the worst contracts in the NBA (Harris) for a guy who might decide not to play (Simmons) .. no thank you
Several others floating around were about as bad. Hawks taking on young players not able to help this year to get rid of a contract. Again, the only reason to do that is to make a trade for a bigger contract somewhere else and not go over the tax, but you would still have to make the trade close to equal anyway.
It’s like every Hawks rumor has been started by guys in fantasy leagues (you know, the ones that offer you trades like .. Doc Rivers straight up for Michael Jordan) or by people who root for the other team.
Rivers for MJ got me lol. Had a dude offer me Kleber for Sabonis, like I was about to say f**k it & accept lol.
I couldn’t even remember who Kleber was so I had to google him. LOL. That’s about the kind of trades some of these have been.
I might have been a little dramatic on the Rivers/Jordan thing, but man, some of these are ridiculous. Not blaming the trade rumors site though. They aren’t dreaming up this nonsense, just finding it and putting it together in one nice little place.
ATL made the one move they needed to make ahead of the TD, and can make another now or not. The yield for CR was criticized, but it’s been in line with TD market so far (although that might be skewed by POR’s trades and could change). If they don’t make another move at the TD, then they’ll likely make a significant move rejiggering their salary chart before the start of next season. With this roster, the ability to wait and see is valuable.
#FreeBenSimmons
18 hours Knicks.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick….