Nets Rejected 76ers’ One Trade Call on James Harden

Nets guard James Harden has been in the news a lot lately, as the 76ers appear to be in hot pursuit as they dangle widely available guard/forward Ben Simmons.

But per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, the Nets rebuffed the 76ers’ one trade call on Harden in early January. It seems the sides haven’t talked since, with the NBA trade deadline looming on Thursday.

Both teams reportedly believe they have “significant leverage” in a potential Harden-for-Simmons deal.

“The Nets would want a massive package beyond Simmons, because Philadelphia cannot acquire Harden without unloading significant talent and draft assets to create the salary-cap space for free agency,” Wojnarowski and Shelburne reported. “The Sixers have $133 million on the books for the 2022-23 season, and creating the room to sign him would take the unloading of several players and draft picks.”

Sixers head of basketball operations Daryl Morey could still make another run at Harden prior to the deadline, but it seems like such a trade is unlikely to actually happen. The teams may revisit talks during the summer, when Harden will be a free agent. Harden and Morey were together during their time with the Rockets.

Previously, though, when Morey asked Nets GM Sean Marks about Harden, Marks gave a flat “no,” Wojnarowski and Shelburne reported.

Also, coach Steve Nash went on record Sunday to say the Nets aren’t trading Harden.

“I’ve talked to James and he wants to be here,” Nash told reporters. “And he wants to be here long term as well.”

Meanwhile, RealGM relayed that “Kevin Durant still wants Harden, sources said, but wants a committed Harden. Durant, however, is not telling Brooklyn’s leadership how to navigate the situation.