Despite denials coming from the Brooklyn Nets, sources around the NBA tell ESPN’s Brian Windhorst “there absolutely is a chance” of the team trading James Harden to the Philadelphia for a package headlined by Ben Simmons.
The Nets have lost eight in a row and have played several games without any of their Big 3. Harden had a particularly low-energy, four-point game at the Sacramento Kings during their recent road trip.
With both teams posturing publicly, “it has not stopped back-channel conversations and movement by intermediaries” writes Windhorst citing sources.
Both the Nets and 76ers have made other trade calls, which could be a smokescreen that they have other options beyond the Harden-Simmons trade. The Nets have looked to see what they could acquire for Joe Harris, while the 76ers are exploring a trade of Tobias Harris to clear cap space in the offseason to sign Harden outright.