The 3 p.m. EST trade deadline is upon us and now is the time where deals and negotiations get done rather quickly with the deadline pushing teams to get these deals done before time runs out.
The biggest domino to fall is disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons who has yet to play for the team now 54 games into the season. The biggest prize that the Sixers have their eyes on is Brooklyn Nets star James Harden.
Everybody knows that Harden wants to end up in Philadelphia due to his relationships with co-managing partner Michael Rubin as well as president Daryl Morey, but will the Nets move Harden knowing that Kevin Durant will be back from injury soon and there is a chance, however small, that Kyrie Irving can play in home games by the playoffs?
The situation with the Nets has been tough and it’s been annoying, but they still have three talented players at the moment. Despite all of that, Harden still wants out as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has now reported that he doesn’t want the trade request to become public:
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 before 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.
The Nets are known to be asking for other assets like Matisse Thybulle or Seth Curry as well as Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia has been hesitant to make that happen as they would rather give up guys like Isaiah Joe or Paul Reed, but that won’t entice the Nets to get a Harden deal done.
There is risk here on both sides. The Nets could risk keeping Harden with Durant and Irving returning and chase their one championship or they could potentially deal with a guy who could be mailing it in with Brooklyn which is what he has been known to do when he is unhappy. The Sixers could also risk giving a division rival a potential new Big 3 of Durant-Irving-Simmons which is formidable as well.
This will be interesting to watch leading up to the deadline.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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