With Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline rapidly approaching, and deals being made around the NBA, it’s now or never for the Sixers to make a huge splash to rid themselves of a player who does not want to play for them anymore.
The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers held discussions on Tuesday on a trade centered on James Harden for Ben Simmons.
“The sides are absolutely talking, absolutely negotiating,” said Brian Windhorst on Get Up. “[Tuesday], 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 they were getting ready to make the other deal.
“They have swapped offers. Really right now, it’s about haggling the ancillary parts.
“Does this mean it will absolutely get done by tomorrow? I can’t say that. I’m not sitting in the room. It’s complicated. They are in the deal zone right now. I am leaning towards this probably happening. I don’t want to guarantee it or anything, but I think we’re heading in that direction.”
Windhorst added that Harden is pushing for this trade.
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“I can’t tell you how much James Harden wants this. He is screaming in every way he possibly can ‘I don’t want to be here, get me out of here.’”
Windhorst further added the way Harden played at the Sacramento Kings was a signal he wants out. Harden has subsequently not played at all for the Nets.
Harden is still having a great season. He was named an All-Star reserve after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game. However, he has definitely fallen way below the top-five level that he was at in previous years when he played for the Houston Rockets when he was damn near unstoppable.
