A trade between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets centered on Ben Simmons or James Harden is unlikely to happen this week and the two teams have only spoke directly about it once several weeks ago, but there has been activity between the two sides in other ways.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that a source indicated “both sides are going through back channels and third parties to get information.”
Because Harden and Simmons are under contract, both sides need to find information in indirect ways.
“It’s the most bizarre thing,” the source said. “It’s almost as if they are playing a game of cat and mouse … because of all the tampering [implications].”
The 76ers do not believe they will face any tampering charges, according to people close to the team.
A source said the Nets haven’t fully closed the door on trading Harden, despite the public posturing.
“People are saying one thing to one person and saying something completely different to someone else,” the source said. “I get the impression that that’s epitome of the entire situation on all fronts.
“I get the impression that they want Ben and they know the Harden thing is coming to an end and it’s not working anyway. There’s a sense that Simmons could be the lesser of two evils.”
The Inquirer confirmed a report that Brooklyn may be open to trading Harden to the 76ers for a package involving Simmons.