
NBA Rumor: James Harden Trade?
627 rumors in this storyline

The veteran Harden had parted ways with agents Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields of Wasserman (whom he’d engaged to facilitate his move out of Houston) and hired his friend Lorenzo McCloud in August. And while Nets general manager Sean Marks fully expected Harden to sign an extension before opening night, it didn’t happen.
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Marks called Tsai, who reached out directly to FaceTime with Harden. He pressed Harden on whether he wanted to be traded. “He didn’t say directly I want out, but he basically was disgruntled, he was unhappy,” said a source familiar with the situation.
Marks and Morey talked, but there was no movement the rest of that Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Finally, Tsai called Harris. “[They’re] pretty good friends, friendly with each other,” said a source, calling them “partners in this business called the NBA.” Harris was told if the 76ers were serious about a Simmons package to make sure Morey came back with an offer that topped the one they viewed as “sub-optimal.”
James Harden on his stint in Brooklyn: 'It was a lot of ups and downs'
Let’s talk Brooklyn for a second, how would you sum up your short stint in Brooklyn?
James Harden: Uh, it was a lot of ups and downs. I appreciate the Nets and the city for what they’ve done for me in that year and a half. This is a business and for me, I think my happiness is the most important thing so I had to make the best decision for myself and for my family. But yea, I appreciated the time in Brooklyn. Do the “what if everyone was healthy” thoughts linger in your head?
James Harden: Yea I think everybody thinks that. Everybody thinks about ‘what if, what if, what if’ but in reality, things don’t work off what if.
James Harden fires back at Tyronn Lue on free throw narratives
There’s been a lot of narratives out there lately with what has gone on the past couple years, do you feel like you have something to prove this postseason in Philly?
James Harden: No, I don’t. I don’t. For me personally, I always want to go out there and play well and contribute in whatever way I need to contribute but for me, it’s going out there and playing my game, trying to help my team win. I don’t feel any pressure, I don’t feel any of that. So when you see people like Ty Lue comment that you wouldn’t be a Top 10 scorer without free throws, do you just laugh at stuff like that?
James Harden: I don’t even pay attention to it. Free throws are a part of the game. You look at who leads the league, Joel and Giannis, what about if you take away their free throws? I don’t understand what that comment meant. Free throws are a part of the game. It’s on the defense to have discipline and not foul. That’s what coaches should be teaching their players. For me I don’t pay attention to it, I just try to go out there and make an impact on the game in a positive way every night.
James Harden told Kevin Durant last summer he'd sign long-term extension with Nets
Kevin Durant’s relationship with James Harden began to blossom again. They went on a trip to Greece this past summer, and the guard twice reassured Durant that he’d sign an extension to stay in Brooklyn long term, according to league sources.
Kyrie Irving on James Harden: 'I wish him nothing but peace and love'
Brian Lewis: Kyrie: “If thats what James wanted I respect his decision…I wish him nothing but peace and love. We have a great friendship but it didnt work out. Wish things could’ve been communicated better for all of us as men; but hey, no hard feelings here with me or anything else.” #Nets
Dirk Nowitzki: Players forcing their way out is not the way to go
“It’s definitely new,” Dirk Nowitzki said on SI’s Crossover podcast. “We always felt like we the players didn’t have enough power at the beginning of my career (in 1998), and the owners had all the power, could make all the moves. And now it’s almost shifting like a little bit too much. I think there should be like a happy medium. But now the players forcing themselves out, to me is not the way to go, either.”
James Harden on Sixers debut: 'I'm extremely happy'
The final verdict on the Philadelphia 76ers trade for James Harden won’t come for months — maybe even years. Until then, every moment Harden and Philadelphia’s MVP-frontrunner Joel Embiid spend on the court together will be something of a Rohrsarch test. Some will see chemistry, others calamity — sometimes both will be visible in the same game. There was plenty to glean from Harden’s debut for the Sixers Friday night in a 133-102 blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the enduring image from this night, the one that jumps out from behind The Beard, was the bright smile on Harden’s face. “[I’m] extremely happy,” Harden said postgame. “Extremely happy.”
Friday night Harden paid off that trust — and then some. He finished with an efficient 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, hitting 7-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-7 from behind the arc. According to Second Spectrum, the Sixers averaged 1.58 points off of Harden’s touches — the second-best mark of any Harden team in a game in which he had at least 20 touches in the last eight seasons. “I think it’s like anyone with a new group,” Morey said. “You realize you’re the new guy. You want to fit in and then show what you can do. Everyone has watched James play for many years and knows what he’s capable of. “When you’re getting to know new teammates, I think those early interactions help. Early play on the court really helps.”
Second in the NBA this season with an average of 10.2 assists, Harden seemed content to try to get his teammates involved more than look for his own scoring opportunities. Perhaps his best assist was a no-look pass to a cutting Tyrese Maxey for a layup midway through the second quarter. “I can be a playmaker,” Harden said. “I can be a scorer (and) just take the shots when I need to.”
[Highlight] Embiid on Harden debut: “You should’ve seen my face every single time, especially in the fourth quarter…that was probably the most wide open I’ve ever been in my career. I used to have to work for everything…never had this, nothing close to it. I think we can be way better than that.”
James Harden to make 76ers debut on Friday
James Harden is the No. 1 selling jersey since trade to 76ers
Justin Grasso: Since the trade, James Harden is the No. 1 selling jersey in the NBA across the Fanatics Network. The #Sixers are the best-selling NBA team during that same time period.
Marc Stein: James Harden says at his introductory press conference had landing in Philadelphia was his “first choice” last season when Houston dealt him to Brooklyn instead.
Kevin Durant the one pulling the trigger on James Harden trade?
By Thursday morning, Durant dialed Nets general manager Sean Marks, sources said. While Durant had initially resisted swapping Harden for Simmons, Harden had finally forced his hand. Brooklyn’s spiral of losses and Harden’s freelancing behavior created an untenable situation. “Kevin’s the one that pulled the trigger with this,” another source with knowledge of the situation said. “Kevin’s the one that said, ‘Do this deal.’ There was growing concern that this entire season would be lost and then they’d lose James for nothing.”
Based on conversations with Brooklyn figures and those close to Durant, it’s clear the Harden blockbuster trade for Ben Simmons wouldn’t have occurred without Durant’s blessing. As more and more Nets personnel faced the reality approaching the trade deadline that Harden wanted out, Durant’s approval mattered more than anyone else’s. “KD didn’t want to get rid of James,” one person familiar with the two superstars said. “But he knew it was over.”
“Kevin was like: ‘F–k it. James isn’t bringing s–t,” another figure with knowledge of Brooklyn added. “I don’t think that would have happened without Kevin making that decision.”
But Durant had been discouraged by Harden since the Nets arrived in San Diego for training camp, according to sources familiar with both players.
“Kevin and James had a cold war going for the last several months that made everyone miserable,” one person with knowledge of the situation said.
“Kyrie not being held accountable and Kyrie being allowed to do whatever he wants. James, being his age, knows he doesn’t have any time to waste to get his first championship,” one source close to Harden told B/R.
After posting an emphatic 37-point triple-double on 13-of-24 shooting at the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 21, Harden left the team for Houston and a night of clubbing, B/R has learned. He rejoined the traveling party in Minnesota for a Jan. 23 game against the Timberwolves and scored just 13 points on 13 attempts.
Some Nets players thought James Harden had quit on the team
Shams Charania on James Harden: He has a game in Sacramento where I think it’s fair to say there where people were within that locker within those confines wondering that, “Did he just quit on us?” And then he misses multiple games for a hamstring injury when, you know, there was no sign of a hamstring injury. There was a sign of the hand injury but there was no hamstring.
In a misguided attempt to protect his reputation, Harden reportedly tried to avoid requesting a trade. Yet, he couldn’t help but make abundantly clear he wanted to leave. Eventually, Harden reportedly requested a trade from Nets owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks – then got dealt to the 76ers. What did Harden say in the end about why he actually wanted out? Marks: There’s a lot of those conversations that obviously have to remain private, as you would expect and everybody understands. And if James wants to allude to those decisions and speak for himself, obviously, totally happy for him to do that. James has been upfront from day one with, you know, the clock is ticking for him. He wants to win a championship. And we do too. And if he feels like this was not the right place to win a championship and we felt like we could continue with our goals of being that last team standing by making a trade, that’s why we made the deal.
Kevin Durant on James Harden trade: ‘I’m glad we’re able to get some of this noise away’
“James doesn’t have to explain anything to anybody,” Durant said before the game Saturday against the Miami Heat. “He’s his own man. He makes his decisions on his career by himself. He doesn’t owe anybody an explanation, and I wasn’t looking for one. “I’m just glad that we got this thing done and now we’re able to move forward and get some of this noise away, and I’m sure he would feel the same way. But from around our team and around our group, there’s noise about what may happen. So I’m glad we can push through that.”
“I think once a person gets to that decision of ‘I’m unhappy,’ I think he’s gone through a lot of steps to get there,” Durant said. “So no matter what I say or try to convince someone — I’m not saying I did this, but this is just my theory on this — no matter what I say or do to try to convince someone to change their mood from being unhappy to happy, I think that’s when I’m pretty late to the party. “He’s made his decision. I’m sure people make their decision before they get to that mode of being unhappy. I didn’t have any conversations with James up until then. I thought everything was solid. I don’t do any convincing. I’m sure you make those choices and decisions on your own as an individual. Me as a friend, I just have to accept it.”
Sixers-Nets trade aftermath: Kevin Durant, James Harden were hardly communicating
Beyond the rampant skepticism about the severity of his latest hamstring injury, on top of the ever-present questions about his substandard conditioning and how much it contributed to his unending hamstring troubles as a Net, Harden has been a brooding presence for months. League sources say there were times before Durant’s injury that the two stars, for reasons unclear, were hardly communicating — followed by the chaos of the past few Durant-less weeks when Harden stopped connecting with anyone to passive-aggressively convey he no longer wanted to be there.
But there are teams out there — I’ve heard from a few already — that believe owners and league officials are determined to explore the feasibility of working new salary sanctions into the next collective bargaining agreement to dissuade another highly compensated player from taking Harden’s lead and essentially going on strike, like he just did twice in a span of 13 months in Houston and Brooklyn, to force his way to a new team.
Brooklyn, furthermore, has thus far downplayed its interest in pushing the league office to investigate Philadelphia for tampering charges, given Harden’s well-chronicled closeness to Morey and Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin, but that’s a topic sure to come up again (and again).
Joel Embiid on Simmons trade: ‘Sucks to lose some of my teammates… but it’s James Harden’
Rich Hoffman: Joel Embiid: “I mean, he’s James Harden.” “Sucks to lose some of my teammates. Seth did such a great job for us and Drum was as good as any backups we’ve had in Philly since I’ve been here. Sucks to lose them but it’s James Harden, one of the best players in the league, MVP.” pic.twitter.com/RgXDAylQ6f
Gina Mizell: Joel Embiid on the end of the Simmons saga: “I honestly don’t care, honestly. Like I always said, it’s unfortunate how everything happened. … Obviously, we didn’t get it done as far as winning in the playoffs. …
Kyle Neubeck: Embiid on the resolution to the Simmons saga: “I’m happy that I’m not going to be answering any more questions on that subject” Says he wishes everybody that has moved on the best
Kyle Neubeck: Embiid says he and Harden have already chatted and both guys are excited to get going. Says he’s the best player he’s had the chance to play with so far in his career
Tom Moore: #Sixers center Joel Embiid: ‘It’s exciting’ to have James Harden as a teammate: pic.twitter.com/3x0PHElX2d
James Harden repeatedly told Sean Marks he wanted to be a Net long term
Relationships with NBA stars can be delicate, but rarely are they mysterious. Little stays a secret within the NBA community, and Harden was quickly hedging on his future with the Nets, sources said. He kept telling Tsai and Marks he wanted to stay long term, but simultaneously started canvassing player agents for advice on an eventual exit strategy to Philadelphia.
Marks and Tsai spoke to Harden often, but he didn’t provide them the counter information he had been feeding to those outside the organization. “Don’t believe any of the rumors,” Harden would tell them. “If there’s a problem, you’ll hear from me directly.”
Over FaceTime calls, Harden told his GM and owner that he wanted a trade to Philadelphia, sources said.
Harden told them he understood, and they agreed he wouldn’t play until after Thursday’s trade deadline. Harden had checked out on the organization, a reality made clearer when Harden informed them that he was returning to Houston on Wednesday to wait out the deadline, sources said. The Nets were traveling to Washington having lost their ninth game in a row.
Meanwhile, the trade deadline was inching closer. Morey made it known that he’d be interested in a Harden-for-Simmons swap. In public, the Nets claimed they weren’t entertaining any deals for Harden, but in private, according to sources, the two sides started negotiating around the beginning of February. The Nets knew that Harden wanted to leave in the offseason, preferably for the Sixers, and that the Sixers wanted him. They just didn’t want the news becoming public. “I don’t need this stuff affecting our locker room,” Nets general manager Sean Marks told an associate this week.
Brand told Harris he didn’t think the Sixers needed to bring in someone else, that he was confident in himself and his group. But, he added, after more than 20 championship-less NBA seasons, both as a player and as an executive, what he wanted most was to win a title, and also, he’d actually gotten to know Morey in the bubble — they had lunch one day and sat next to each other during a Sixers-Rockets game — and Brand believed Morey could help both him and the organization. “If you can get that type of guy,” Brand told Harris, “you gotta do it.”
Both men spoke with Brand and ownership. Brand, according to multiple league sources, told D’Antoni that Joel Embiid was in his corner; Embiid and D’Antoni had clicked during D’Antoni’s stint as a Sixers assistant in 2016. D’Antoni and Brand discussed contract terms. D’Antoni believed ownership was on his side and even told some former Rockets staffers to begin house hunting in Philadelphia. At the same time, Lue, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking, got the impression that he was Brand’s top choice. The problem, according to that source, was Lue didn’t believe the decision was Brand’s to make.
Morey and Rivers had also been colleagues in Boston for about 18 months, and Rivers’ son, Austin, had spent two seasons playing for Morey’s Rockets, an arrangement that came together after Doc sold Morey on Austin’s ability. Morey wanted Rivers to be the Rockets’ next coach and believed Rivers was interested in the job. Rivers was scheduled to meet with the Sixers on Friday in Philadelphia and then travel to Houston on Sunday to talk with the Rockets.
“Morey went out of his way to connect with Embiid early on,” a source close to Embiid said. The two FaceTimed the day of Morey’s introductory news conference. They played tennis together. Embiid, for his part, was eager to accept the role Morey was offering, even asking Morey to lunch. “[Embiid] has a real interest in the salary cap and team-building strategies,” the source close to Embiid said. “And he really enjoyed talking to Daryl about all of that stuff.”
James Harden won’t make Sixers debut until at least Tuesday
James Harden may officially be a 76er, but his debut will have to wait. The newly acquired superstar guard will not play Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder or Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as he is expected to arrive in Philadelphia this weekend and get looked over by the team’s medical personnel.
James Harden started acting up after Nets allowed Kyrie Irving to come back?
Vincent Goodwill: I think what was the turning point here… And I never tell you anything that’s not coming from an educated and informed place. I think the reason James Harden started acting up was the moment the Nets let Kyrie Irving come back. Chris Haynes: Okay, that’s not the first I’ve heard that. I’ve heard of that.
So why would James Harden want to break that up? Well, part of the reason was reportedly Kyrie Irving, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. The two did not seem to get along, per Vardon’s reporting. And things came to a head, particularly, when Irving chose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine and missed games because of it. “Harden has said publicly he was frustrated the Nets weren’t playing better. He saw how much the Nets need Irving on the court, all the time, and did the math on how nuts that would be to play home playoff games without Irving, even though Irving isn’t hurt… “I’mma give him the shot,” Harden once joked of Irving. Now that seems like less of a joke.”
Later on Friday, NBA Insider Chris Haynes provided more insight into the inner workings of the deal on Harden and his manager’s side. “I don’t know if they knew for sure (he’d get traded), but obviously they knew thing were in the works for a few days now,” he told NBA on TNT. “I was around this Nets team for the last few weeks. They kept downplaying the fact that Harden didn’t want to leave, even though everyone was feeling otherwise. “That was a talking point that they were trying to relay to everybody and downplaying all the hooplah that was coming out. “But it was serious hooplah. James did want out, he just didn’t feel the fit was right for his talents at that time. He felt like this is the best move for him and his career at this time.”
Trade involving James Harden, Ben Simmons official
The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard/forward Ben Simmons, guard Seth Curry, center Andre Drummond and two future first round draft picks from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for guard James Harden and forward Paul Millsap. In a related transaction, the Nets have requested waivers on forward DeAndre’ Bembry.
Yaron Weitzman: Nets and Sixers make trade official. Sean Marks in statement: “The decision to trade James was a difficult one, however after recent discussions with him and his representatives we felt that this move would be best for all involved.”
Ky Carlin: The James Harden trade is now official. “James Harden is one of the truly elite players in the league. His career has been defined by incredible personal achievement, including honors as NBA MVP and three-time NBA scoring champion,” -managing partner Josh Harris #Sixers
Chris Haynes: James Harden plans to wear the No. 1 jersey for the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell @YahooSports. No. 13 is Wilt Chamberlain’s retired number.
Kevin Durant passes on James Harden in All-Star Draft
David Hardisty: James Harden is the very last pick of the All-Star Draft. Kevin Durant passed on him for Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, Khris Middleton, LaMelo Ball and Rudy Gobert. LeBron and Barkley laughed knowing what was happening 😂
Ben Golliver: Nets’ Kevin Durant on integrating Ben Simmons, Seth Curry & new pieces after James Harden trade on TNT: “I feel like we’ve got versatile players. We’ll have to figure it out and figure out what works for us. I’m just happy we’ve got guys who want to be a part of this.”
Kevin Durant on James Harden trade: Everybody got what they wanted
Ben Golliver: Nets’ Kevin Durant on James Harden trade on TNT: “I’m excited for our team & looking forward to finishing the season out with this new group… The playoffs are right around the corner & we’ve got to fast track and get used to each other. I think everybody got what they wanted.”
Kyrie Irving was eager to see James Harden traded to 76ers
Kyrie Irving was ready for James Harden to move on, too. When Irving heard Harden was in fact hoping to be traded, a well-placed source says he was eager to see it come to fruition.
Morey has been seeking another star to play alongside MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid for months. Not known for his defense, the 6-foot-5 Harden becomes the best offensive sidekick in Embiid’s six seasons as an NBA player. Embiid, who leads the league with a 29.4-point average, and Harden (22.5) become the No. 2 scoring duo in the NBA, just behind the Bulls’ DeMar DeRozan (27.4 points) and Zach LaVine (24.9).
Ian Begley: People in touch with BKN on Thursday morning said club was comfortable with keeping James Harden on roster post-trade deadline if PHI didn’t meet its asking price. BKN wanted Matisse Thybulle, didn’t get him but found deal they liked to send Harden to PHI: pic.twitter.com/n2JjRVAHGl
James Harden will not hit free agency this offseason
Shams Charania: As part of deal, new 76ers star James Harden is opting into his $47.3 million player option on contract for next season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Jonathan Feigen: Heard last night that five or six teams needed to wait for the Simmons-Harden deal to make their own deals. Could be many coming in now, (Don’t think Boston-San Antonio was dependent on Brooklyn-Philly.)
David Hardisty: According to @Ramona Shelburne, “I had an Eastern Conference team say to me, ‘I hope this (Brooklyn-Philly) trade does not happen because both of these teams are going to be better than us now.'”
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Nets will get the Sixers’ 2022 first-round pick unprotected with a right to defer until 2023 and a 2027 first-round pick protected 1-to-8, sources tell ESPN. The 2027 pick would roll over to 2028 protected 1-to-8 again. The pick turns into two seconds and $2M in 2029.
Adam Spolane: Kendrick Perkins just said on ESPN that James Harden and Kevin Durant didn’t speak “for years” after Durant chose to sign with Golden State. Harden tried to recruit Durant to Houston after the 41-41 2016 season and he didn’t even take a meeting with the Rockets
James Harden to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
Chris Haynes: Brooklyn Nets are trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons and Seth Curry, league sources tell @YahooSports
Ian Begley: Philadelphia had offered Nets a package that included Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, a first round pick and second round pick during talks around James Harden, per source. The Athletic reports a deal has been finalized to send Harden to PHI.
It's happening: James Harden headed to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, more
Shams Charania: BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are finalizing trade sending James Harden for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and draft picks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Nets seeking Matisse Thybulle in James Harden trade
Ian Begley: Source with knowledge of PHI-BKN dynamic says Nets have been seeking Matisse Thybulle in a James Harden package.
Keith Pompey: According to sources, the #Sixers are refusing to put Matisse Thybulle in the deal with the #BrooklynNets for James Harden. That’s the hold up. All other issue are agreed upon.
Jake Fischer: Brooklyn has called rival teams gauging trade interest in Matisse Thybulle, sources said, in the scenario the Nets are able to acquire the swingman from Philadelphia.
Ian Begley: In addition to the Matisse Thybulle element, source with knowledge of the PHI-BKN dynamic says Sixers have been open to including draft compensation in talks centered around James Harden deal.
Frank Isola: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry a first and a second round pick is the Sixers offer, according to a source. The addition of Matisse Thybulle could get it done.
League sources have said Sixers and Brooklyn Nets are willing to swap the key pieces — the Sixers’ Ben Simmons for the Nets’ James Harden. However, the trade discussions are on the pieces that will be added to a potential deal.
Kristian Winfield: Woj: “James Harden wants a trade to the 76ers, I’m told. He has not told the Nets specifically that. He has a lot of trepidation about the idea of asking out of 2 teams in (back-to-back seasons).”
“There was a hangup trying to figure out what happened with Simmons before other deals happened. When Harden came on the board, to whatever extent he did, I think a lot of teams that were interested went other directions because clearly, the Sixers were going to focus on that,” one source whose team had explored a Simmons trade said this week.
Nick Friedell: Nash says that Harden and Aldridge stayed home to rehab. He does not expect them to play in Miami on Saturday.
Bobby Marks: James Harden said it was “not about the money” when he did not sign an extension. If he is not traded by 3PM ET, we will find out if that is correct. The cap space route for Philly would cost Harden between $70-$100M plus diminish a roster that he would be signing with.
Kevin Durant likes report of James Harden wanting to leave for Sixers
Kyle Neubeck: As you will likely see 1000 other people tweet, Kevin Durant liked an Instagram post regarding the Harden report from Woj this morning
Michael Lee: Text from a former NBA player this morning: “Harden gonna have a hard time getting a former teammate to introduce him at his HOF induction”
James Harden not in Washington for Nets game
I can confirm James Harden and LaMarcus Aldridge are not in Washington today for tonight’s game against the Wizards. The Nets say they stayed back in the city for rehab purposes.
James Harden wants trade to Philadelphia
Although Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden wants a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, he has resisted making that formal request out of fear of the public backlash that would come with asking out of a second franchise in consecutive seasons, sources told ESPN.
Harden is hopeful that 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey secures a trade for him prior to Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline, but Morey and Nets general manager Sean Marks have yet to become engaged in serious dialogue on a deal, sources said. There’s still an expectation that the sides will communicate Thursday and the possibility of a deal remains, but both teams are left measuring the risk-reward of a Harden deal, sources said.
Stephen A. Smith: James Harden wants out of Brooklyn
Stephen A. Smith on James Harden: What we know is… from what the people that I’ve spoken to… he wants out of Brooklyn, he does not want to be there. Now he hasn’t completely gone nuclear the way that he did in Houston, where he’s showing up late or refusing to show up at all, or what have you. One executive described it to me as him being at a 60% level
Stephen A. Smith: The reason why the Nets have held off on it, according to my sources, is that Kevin Durant chimed in and said, “Excuse me, I’m supposed to be back after the all star break.”
Harden, who will miss a third straight game Thursday against the Wizards, rejected a three-year, $161 million extension before the season with an eye toward free agency this summer. Sources have told The Post that some inside the Nets have taken note of his grumblings, so it’s easy to see why they have been willing to talk about potential deals.
My best sense on the James Harden front is that there is indeed a steep price at which the Nets would reluctantly consent to surrender on Deadline Day and accept a trade offer from the 76ers now rather than run the risk at season’s end that Philadelphia manages to create enough salary-cap space to sign Harden away outright in the offseason.
Adrian Wojnarowski: “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.
Woj: No meaningful conversations between Nets and 76ers regarding Ben Simmons, James Harden
Jalen Rose doesn't think James Harden gets traded until offseason
Tyrese Maxey will not be included in Harden-Simmons swap?
James Harden wants to be traded to the 76ers?
Sources say Harden wants to be traded to the Sixers, where he would reunite with Morey and form an elite All-Star pairing with Joel Embiid.
A source said as of Wednesday afternoon, a deal isn’t as close to being finalized as people think. The Nets and Sixers engaged in informal trade discussions Tuesday and, according to sources, bickered over pieces to add to a potential deal.
Sources have said it’s Harden or bust for the Sixers. At the root of that stance is Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey’s affinity for Harden from their time together with the Houston Rockets.
Matisse Thybulle being mentioned as part of Harden-Simmons trade
Multiple league sources have said that Thybulle’s name has been mentioned as part of a potential deal for James Harden ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline. One source said Seth Curry and a first-round pick have been mentioned along with Thybulle. A person close the Sixers disputed the package centered around Simmons for Harden.
One league source said the Sixers are unwilling to part ways with their young stars, Thybulle and second-year point guard Tyrese Maxey.
No ongoing negotiations on James Harden-Ben Simmons trade?
Salman Ali: Woj on a potential Harden/Simmons deal: “Right now there’s no negotiation going on between Philadelphia and Brooklyn… The idea that they’re going back and forth that’s been surmised by some, I don’t think there the accurate thing.”
January 30, 2023 | 4:11 am EST Update
Kawhi Leonard would welcome another point guard

Kawhi Leonard has made it clear to the Clippers front office that he would welcome a point guard addition, and it’s no surprise that two of his former teammates on his championship Raptors team, Lowry and VanVleet, are on their short list of targets.
Darren Wolfson: Bleacher Report has the Mavs, Suns and Clippers in on D’Angelo Russell. I just don’t sense any trade has been close. And frankly the way he’s been playing, he should be here on February 9.
Would Vasa be able to play in the NBA? Bogdanovic thinks there are two things Micic has to have in order to leave Europe. “He could come, there is room for him. He also needs financial motivation, [and] a role motivation to come. He is number one there [in Efes], taking this step in [this part of] your career is difficult. But he has the quality to play in the NBA, that’s for sure.”
Darren Wolfson: Yahoo reports on Denver gauging the market on Bones Hyland. Tim Connelly drafted Hyland, you can bet that Tim Connelly would have some interest there if something could be worked out to bring Hyland here to Minnesota. But again, I don’t sense the Nuggets and Wolves are far down the road on any sort of transaction.
MarJon Beauchamp: Man… @Giannis Antetokounmpo is just different.. thankful to learn from you everyday big bro🙏🏽 keep going 🐐 #50ball pic.twitter.com/hda9Ddw8iy
Eric Nehm: Giannis Antetokounmpo is delaying his post-game interview with @ZoraStephenson because he is afraid of getting doused with water from his teammates. He has finally relented and let them do it.