Nets’ James Harden Wants To Be Traded To 76ers

February 10, 2022

Nets star James Harden would like a trade to the 76ers but has yet to ask the Nets, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The 76ers and Nets have been talking about a potential Harden trade that also involves Ben Simmons. It is not known if other pieces would be involved, though several reports have suggested guard Seth Curry could be part of a package.

While Harden is hopeful a deal can be found, the 76ers and Nets have yet to come close to a trade, Wojnarowski reported. The deadline is today at 3 p.m. EST.

While the Nets don’t particularly want to trade Harden, he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has not formally requested a trade, Wojnarowski reported.

“There’s risk for the Nets, too: After trading key players and draft picks to acquire Harden from the Rockets a little over a year ago, they risk keeping a disgruntled player to attempt a championship run this season — and the specter of losing him for nothing this summer,” Wojnarowski wrote.

Simmons, of course, has yet to appear in a game as he and the 76ers seek a trade.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the teams had talked trade Tuesday, and “bickered” during the call. Simmons has not appeared in a game this season, and Harden will be a free agent when it’s over. All we really know is the Sixers want to trade Simmons and Harden is their primary target.

“Again, deadlines create action often. People hold out. There’s always a lot of posturing,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN. “But I think Brooklyn still believes it’s best path right now is to get Kevin Durant back. And James Harden healthy. And Kyrie Irving on the court. And et those three together again probably after the All-Star break…

“It’s not a perfect or ideal scenario with James Harden right now. There’s no question about that. I think barring a flurry of negotiations and activity that hasn’t happened yet, right now James Harden is likely to be with the Nets.

“Again, it’s always fluid. I don’t sense an appetite from Brooklyn to do a deal that’s simply Ben Simmons for James Harden. If Philadelphia decided to, you know, get really aggressive with an offer or offers, again it can change of course. I don’t believe there’s any negotiations going on right now.”