Use your ← → (arrows) to browse
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 06: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 06, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, NBA Trades: 3 potential James Harden for Ben Simmons trade packages, NBA Trades, NBA Trades. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (subscription required), the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue superstar James Harden ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, and the Brooklyn Nets are now open to discussing a deal that would return a package centered around disgruntled star Ben Simmons.
It has been widely reported that the Sixers were planning to hold off any Simmons trade before the deadline in favor of pursuing Harden in the upcoming offseason during free agency. However, due to Brooklyn suddenly changing their mind, a deal could now surface at any point in these coming days until the February 10 buzzer hits.
Since the Brooklyn Nets are now open to discussing a James Harden for Ben Simmons trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, let’s examine three potential deals
As Ben Simmons’ standoff with Philadelphia continues to remain stagnant, and with Brooklyn considering the need for change (as they currently sit at the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference), there’s an expectation that the Sixers and Nets will engage in conversations surrounding a Simmons-Harden deal.
Ben Simmons hasn’t played at all this season after demanding a trade following Philly’s disappointing playoff exit to the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semi-finals last year. James Harden has reportedly not enjoyed living in Brooklyn and the Nets seem to be struggling as a team at the moment.
Since forming an intimidating “Big 3” of Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, the Nets have not come close to meeting expectations. Of course, injuries have played a large factor in their success, but they seem to be worried about how their three superstars have meshed. It’s come to the point where questions have arisen about whether or not this team can win a title together as currently constructed.
There are also obvious concerns that James Harden could enter free agency and leave Brooklyn this summer, so the Nets could be interested in moving Harden now if they feel that there’s a deal out there that would upgrade the roster for both the short-term and long-term future. A deal with the Philadelphia 76ers centered around Ben Simmons could certainly be the answer.
Despite Simmons’ shooting woes, the three-time All-Star is still one of the best multi-positional defenders in the league. His presence would immediately make a key impact in Brooklyn, where there’s already elite firepower offensively. Additionally, Simmons is in the second year of a five-year, $177.2 million contract and won’t become a free agent until 2025.
76ers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has been publicly fond of James Harden as the two worked alongside each other during their Houston days. Morey has clearly expressed interest in pairing Harden with bonafide superstar and MVP candidate Joel Embiid in Philly to strengthen their championship pursuit.
If Harden were to be acquired by the Sixers, there would be a strong belief that he’d sign a supermax extension to stay with the franchise long-term.
As a blockbuster trade between these two title contenders seems to be a real possibility, let’s look at three potential trade packages that would send Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets and James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Shams Charania of The Athletic</a> <strong>(subscription required)</strong>, the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/philadelphia-76ers/">Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue superstar James Harden ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, and the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/brooklyn-nets/">Brooklyn Nets are now open to discussing a deal that would return a package centered around disgruntled star Ben Simmons.</p>
<p>It has been widely reported that the Sixers were planning to hold off any Simmons trade before the deadline in favor of pursuing Harden in the upcoming offseason during free agency. However, due to Brooklyn suddenly changing their mind, a deal could now surface at any point in these coming days until the February 10 buzzer hits.</p>
<h2>Since the Brooklyn Nets are now open to discussing a James Harden for Ben Simmons trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, let’s examine three potential deals</h2>
<p>As Ben Simmons’ standoff with Philadelphia continues to remain stagnant, and with Brooklyn considering the need for change (as they currently sit at the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference), there’s an expectation that the Sixers and Nets will engage in conversations surrounding a Simmons-Harden deal.</p>
<p>Ben Simmons hasn’t played at all this season after demanding a trade following Philly’s disappointing playoff exit to the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semi-finals last year. James Harden has reportedly not enjoyed living in Brooklyn and the Nets seem to be struggling as a team at the moment.</p>
<p>Since forming an intimidating “Big 3” of Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, the Nets have not come close to meeting expectations. Of course, injuries have played a large factor in their success, but they seem to be worried about how their three superstars have meshed. It’s come to the point where questions have arisen about whether or not this team can win a title together as currently constructed.</p>
<p>There are also obvious concerns that James Harden could enter free agency and leave Brooklyn this summer, so the Nets could be interested in moving Harden now if they feel that there’s a deal out there that would upgrade the roster for both the short-term and long-term future. A deal with the Philadelphia 76ers centered around Ben Simmons could certainly be the answer.</p>
<p>Despite Simmons’ shooting woes, the three-time All-Star is still one of the best multi-positional defenders in the league. His presence would immediately make a key impact in Brooklyn, where there’s already elite firepower offensively. Additionally, Simmons is in the second year of a five-year, $177.2 million contract and won’t become a free agent until 2025.</p>
<p>76ers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has been publicly fond of James Harden as the two worked alongside each other during their Houston days. Morey has clearly expressed interest in pairing Harden with bonafide superstar and MVP candidate Joel Embiid in Philly to strengthen their championship pursuit.</p>
<p>If Harden were to be acquired by the Sixers, there would be a strong belief that he’d sign a supermax extension to stay with the franchise long-term.</p>
<p>As a blockbuster trade between these two title contenders seems to be a real possibility, let’s look at three potential trade packages that would send Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets and James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_441648" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/17005523.jpeg">
!["NBA](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2018%2F08%2F17005523.jpeg")
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">76ers Get</div> <div class="info">James Harden</div> <div class="info">2028 second-round pick</div> </div> </div> <div class="separator"></div> <div class="team b"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnets.png"/>
<div class="details"> <div class="team-name">Nets Get</div> <div class="info">Ben Simmons</div> <div class="info">Seth Curry</div> <div class="info">Matisse Thybulle</div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
</div>
<p>Initially, we’ll start with a trade package that the Brooklyn Nets would likely prefer the most – a deal centered around Ben Simmons for James Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers that also includes additional assets.</p>
<p>After sacrificing a haul of draft compensation and youthful assets to acquire James Harden from the Rockets last season, the Nets would want a similar haul if Harden were to be offloaded again. This package from the Sixers would certainly match that value.</p>
<p>Ben Simmons is a 25-year-old, defensive-minded star, Matisse Thybulle is another young prospect that’s already an elite defensive weapon, and Seth Curry is a terrific role player who is an experienced sharpshooter. All three assets would be valuable boosts to a Brooklyn team that needs to upgrade its defense and shooting corps.</p>
<p>If or when the Nets and Sixers engage in dialogue about a possible blockbuster trade, this type of return is what Brooklyn should initially request in exchange for the services of Harden. It would make sense for the organization’s schemes, timelines, and the salaries would match.</p>
<p>However, the Sixers might feel that they’re giving up too much in this scenario. Philly values Matisse Thybulle to the extent that it would seem unlikely to see them willing to include the 24-year-old. They feel the same about sophomore guard Tyrese Maxey.</p>
<p>Therefore, it would be extremely difficult to convince the Sixers to attach Thybulle in a Ben Simmons package, even if it means receiving a perennial superstar like Harden in the process.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, if Philadelphia is open to including Matisse Thybulle and Seth Curry in a deal for James Harden, this trade package headlining Simmons would certainly be a realistic possibility leading up to the deadline.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_441646" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-441646 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1300757918.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades: 3 potential James Harden for Ben Simmons trade packages" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300757918.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300757918-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 06: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 06, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, NBA Trades: 3 potential James Harden for Ben Simmons trade packages. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA Trades: 3 potential Simmons-Harden trade packages – Curry/Springer</h2>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Trade" data-team-ids="[93,147]" data-team-gets='[["James Harden"],["Ben Simmons","Seth Curry","Jaden Springer","2023 second round pick"]]'> <div class="playertrade remove-native-227"> <div class="trade"> <div class="team a"> <div class="logo"><img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2F76ers.png">
!["NBA](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/05/nba-trades-james-harden-ben-simmons/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2018%2F08%2F15540420.jpeg")
