On NBA Countdown on Wednesday evening (hat tip to RealGM), ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski continued to relay that the Nets and Sixers aren’t involved in meaningful discussions involving James Harden.
“Let’s start here: we are certainly less than 24 hours from the NBA trade deadline,” said Wojnarowski. “There has not been meaningful dialogue between the 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets. Now that doesn’t mean it won’t happen between now and tomorrow’s trade deadline. But any potential James Harden trade to Philadelphia or anywhere, it would take a significant amount of negotiation. It’s not as simple as just Ben Simmons for James Harden.”
Woj went on to say the Nets still believe they can win a title when healthy no matter what seed they enter the playoffs as. He also said that the Nets are prepared for Harden to leave this summer, but still think he gives them the best chance of winning a title this season.
“I think Brooklyn is prepared for the idea that they’ll just treat James Harden, if his plans are to leave, treat it like Toronto did Kawhi Leonard. And say ‘this is probably a one shot deal. We want to win a championship. Our best chance is to do that.’ Who knows what happens when Harden gets back with Kevin Durant. They start playing together again the way they had planned to from the beginning. They’ve been separated because of the injuries.”
Here’s are some more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Russell Westbrook is unlikely to be traded by the deadline, sources tell Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. The one exception to that would be if LeBron James pushes the Lakers to deal Westbrook to the Rockets for John Wall, but Los Angeles would have to give up additional assets or take on unwanted salary, making it doubtful, says Pincus.
- The Nuggets are on the hunt for a wing defender and are willing to discuss their 2027 first-round pick, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. Sources tell Singer that Denver is searching for a non-rental player, so they’d need to be under contract for multiple seasons. The trouble the Nuggets are running into is being able to match salaries, considering JaMychal Green would likely need to be involved — Green can veto any trade and is only interested in playing for a contender.
- The Raptors aren’t willing to compromise future flexibility for a short-term solution, and are only willing to take on money beyond 2022/23 in a trade if the player fits well with the team, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet relays (Twitter link).
Easiest trade ever is Wall for Westbrook and 2 second round picks
Everything is automatically matched
Why do Lakers need to add two candies?
Rockets GM needs to spend time to sign paper
Why would Houston want to take Russ back after he pouted his way out of there a year ago? Noone wants the 44M headache that is Westbrook. Not even for Wall who just gets paid to watch TV.
If Russ is traded to the rockets he would stay home just like wall is staying home. So why wouldn’t the rockets want to do the trade if they get a extra second rd pk.
Maxey nor Thybulle needs to be included for any trade for Harden. 76ers will just get him cheaper in the offseason. People that don’t know basketball think Maxey/Thybulle needs to be involved.
Hardens going somewhere warm in the summer…LAC or Miami
Pretty sure they cant get low enough to add his contract even in a sign and trade. MIA is right at the tax now hard capped with numbers going up next year for the same guys they have. LAC is already way in the tax and just took on additional money for next year.
If the Sixers want him this year and not burn another year of Embiid in his prime, they may just have to. I don’t think Simmons and Thybulle is too much of an ask, and would certainly turn the season around for the Sixers.
Yes it is. That is probably the 2 best defenders in the NBA, 1 who is 25 w/ 3 straight all star games under his belt, and has 3.5 years left on his deal making 32,34,38,40. Thybulle was all defense team last year and hardly played! He is 24, makes less than 3M right now, and is a piece that they can’t give up. Maxey, 21, all star quality guard w/blazing speed and is only going to be better. They help more than 30 games of James.
Better for both teams to get a deal done now. You don’t want the idea of trades hanging over teams for months. Players could get injured, anything could happen. Both teams need the deal to have some certainty.
We can get him later but in order to take on the difference in salaries between him and Ben we would still need to give up someone earning more than 3.5mil.
Plus I’d rather get the deal done now and be able to compete for a title this season instead of getting harden in the offseason and waiting another year to be were we are now.
Can always just wait a year, what if Embiid gets injured or something. You just go for it now and bite the bullet.
I’d happily give up Thybulle to get it done right now
Ish. I mean they would have to find someone willing to give them draft assets and maybe a cheap roll player for Simmons where almost no money comes back. Then you have to send out Harris and maybe one more contract to OKC with nothing returning and draft picks going along to OKC. Then you have min and the MLE to fill out the roster around him and Embiid.
You think they could sell Simmons into staying if they trade Harris this off-season and pickup Harden next year? That would be a hell of a trio.
#FreeBenSimmons