Thursday’s NBA trade deadline looks set to be dominated by a huge deal, with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that the Brooklyn Nets are sending James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks.
Wojnarowski reports that the Nets are also giving the Sixers a 2022 first-round pick and a protected 2027 first-round pick as part of the deal.
Rumours of the deal have been bubbling for some time, but it was understood Harden did not want to alienate fans after he had earlier pushed for a move away from Houston during his time with the Rockets.
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Simmons was the No1 overall pick in the 2016 draft but has sat out this season due to mental health issues and had said he no longer wanted to be part of the 76ers. Both men are among the best players in the league when on form: 32-year-old Harden was the NBA MVP in 2018, the same year Simmons was named rookie of the year.
Harden, a 10-time All-Star arrived in Brooklyn in January 2021, to join up with fellow former MVP Kevin Durant and star guard Kyrie Irving. However, the Nets made an early exit from the playoffs and are in an even worse state this season. They are currently on a nine-game losing streak, while Irving has not been able to play any home games due to his vaccine status.
Simmons was compared to LeBron James when he was drafted by the 76ers and has been named an All-Star on three occasions. But the Australian came under heavy fire in the notoriously tough Philadelphia sports scene and fans criticized him for his shooting deficiencies as well as his friction with the team’s other superstar, Joel Embiid. Simmons soon became unhappy with what he perceived as a lack of support in Philadelphia, a situation that may improve in Brooklyn, where he will be united with veteran point guard Patty Mills, a hugely respected figure in Australian basketball.
