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Simmons, Harden, got what they wanted, not what they deserved

 

NBA.com

James Harden and Ben Simmons aren't all that different afterall. For Philadelphia, trusting the process just wasn't in the cards as Simmons' clash with Joel Embid saw the relationship beyond salvaging.

Simmons was a reluctant scorer throughout his Sixers' tenure and became the scapegoat for last year's second round playoff exit against the Hawks. After refusing to report to the team, save a brief appearance at the team's practice facility a couple months back, Simmons cited mental health issues as the culprit for why he was unable to play.

Harden on the other hand, became increasingly frustrated with Kyrie Irving's part-time status, Kevin Durant being sidelined by a MCL sprain and a less than stellar supporting cast with the Nets, this after he forced his way out of Houston in January of 2021. Throughout the first half of the season, Harden looked to still be battling through the hamstring injury he suffered last year and fans didn't see him showing the same joy he did on the court in his first year with the Nets.

As the trade deadline drew closer, reports began to surface about Harden's frustration with the organization, being unhappy living in Brooklyn, among other concerns about his role in the offense and the team's handling of Irving's vaccine situation. Despite a Harden for Simmons swap being classified as nothing more than a juicy trade rumor initially, things really began to gain steam when Nets' GM Sean Marks and Harden had a phone conversation that all but affirmed all of the assertions in various reports about him being unhappy.



Things literally came down to the wire, but Sixers GM Daryl Morey reunited with his prized player in Houston by sending a disgruntled Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first round picks to Brooklyn for Harden and Paul Millsap.

When all the dust settled, Harden got what he wanted, to land in Philly with MVP candidate Embid and for Simmons to play with the best  player in the world in Durant along with a part-time but lethal scorer in Irving.

If you take both players at their word, Harden was truly too injured to play the week leading up to his ultimate trade and Simmons was dealing with legitimate mental health concerns.

Even if there's only an ounce of truth in both cases, both players quit on their respective clubs by seeking a change of scenery and  a complementary supporting cast to their skillsets.

It shouldn't come as a surprise in the star-driven league where players recruit and assemble superteams like playing ball in a park, but this is the state of affairs in the NBA.

Players can dictate terms to organizations and if they're willing to absorb the financial penalty, wait things out and ultimately get that they want. While this trade may benefit Philadelphia in the short-term and Brooklyn now and in the future, it sets a dangerous precedent for how unhappy players conduct themselves at the end of their time with an organization.



Oddsmaker sets surprising likelihood of Nets' trading Harden




If you follow all the reports over the last few weeks regarding James Harden's chances of being dealt to Philadelphia, you'd think it's almost a forgone conclusion that he is leaving Brooklyn.

In reality, that couldn't be further from the truth.

According to OddsChecker, Harden has -500 odds, or a 83.3 percent chance to stay with the Nets.

Again, a quick scroll on #NBATwitter and its gloom and doom in Nets' World and near celebration in the City of Brotherly Love.

While it's clear that Brooklyn's GM Sean Marks and Sixers' GM Daryl Morey have had an open trade dialogue, the same can be said for the other 28 GMs across the league.

For Marks, he has to at least listen to what Morey is willing to offer, but anything less than a king's ransom shouldn't keep him on the phone for long.

Things will only heat up with less 48 hours until Thursday's trade deadline, but for the time being hedge your bet that Harden remains a Net.



'Scary Hours' takes on new meaning for Nets

 

NBA.com

Things are getting scary in Brooklyn. Not the kind of scary that James Harden alluded to when he dubbed the Big 3 lineup including himself, Kyrie Irving and Durant with that exact moniker, but a different kind of scary.

The prospect of breaking up the Big 3 era before it really even started, the idea that Harden is now a malcontent by mirroring his final days in Houston, is the media narrative swirling around NBA Twitter.  A proposed Ben- Simmons for Harden swap is making the rounds with fans and media speculating a deal could be imminent.

The reality is, the Nets won't trade Harden, that is unless Philadelphia includes Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle as a starting point. Sean Marks, by all reports, isn't shopping Harden, and by his own remarks, Harden wants to stay in Brooklyn.

However in today's social media age-the age of misinformation-it's become gloom and doom around Nets' World.

Reading the tea leaves and casting aside erroneous reports and clear media plants to drive up and down the value of a particular player, it's almost a certainty that Harden will remain a Net past Thursday's trade deadline. 

Sixers' GM Daryl Morey covets Harden and can't wait to unload Simmons, but Philadelphia will need to offer a king's ransom to even get Marks' attention.

Any deal in-season is in all likelihood off the table, but depending how the Nets' season plays out, the trade rumors will start circulating this off-season.

The Sixers don't have the cap space to sign Harden outright, so a sign-and-trade scenario is the only way Morey can hope to pry Harden away. The reality is, mired in an eight game slide with Durant injured, Harden hobbled by injury and Irving available only part-time, from the outside looking in, it seems like the sky is falling in Brooklyn.

Things can change quickly in the NBA. Durant is reportedly right on schedule with his rehab, Joe Harris needs to make a decision in the next two weeks to continue rehabbing his ankle or opt for a second procedure, while Irving still remains unvaccinated with no end in sight to New York City's vaccine mandate.

There are a lot of  'what ifs' in Brooklyn, but if Irving is eligible to play full-time and Durant and Harris' rehab go well, people will be singing a much different tune in March.

Nets Insider Podcast: Warriors vs Nets preview






Nets Insider's Rick Laughland alongside BackSportsPage's Randy Zellea are joined by Yahoo Sportsbook, NBATV and MLBTV betting analyst Ariel Epstein, to discuss the latest surrounding the Brooklyn Nets and what NBA bets will lead to the biggest payoff.




Among the topics discussed, the future of James Harden and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, NBA prop bets to make and Rick's History of the Nets Book, set to hit bookstores this summer, via History Press.

Nets won't listen to trade offers for Harden, but what about Irving?


NBA.com

As per Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets won't listen to any trade offers to James Harden ahead of the February 10 NBA Trade Deadline. Per the report, Harden has indicated that he remains dedicated to the organization but is admittedly frustrated with injuries and COVID-19 absences impacting the roster and team continuity.

Free agency will be a whole new ball of wax has Harden did not sign an extension this summer and vowed to be invested in the Nets' long-term, but also wants the opportunity to test the market for the first time in his career. 

Before Sean Marks and company turn their attention to free agency, the Nets have a title to chase. In actuality, the team's championship hopes hinge on Irving's vaccination status or a change in local New York City vaccine mandates. 

The most likely outcome is a change in mandates, but that is not necessarily guaranteed. Does this mean Marks will actively try to move the star point guard set to also be a free agent this summer and current part-time road player? 

No, but it does mean he should at least listen. There is one caveat to this, however. Kevin Durant, who is committed to the team for the next four seasons, would need to be privy to those conversations and Marks would likely need to tread lightly if he goes this route. 

Irving is doing what's best for him and his family and the Nets need to do what's best for them. If that means Irving is in the picture as a full-time player, then even better. If that scenario seems increasingly less likely, Brooklyn's front office at least needs to put feelers out on what they can net for an Irving swap. 

The Nets are sinking fast in a crowded Eastern Conference and six days after reclaiming the top spot, they've now fallen to No. 4 just slightly ahead of Milwaukee with a brutal West Coast trip including stops in Golden State, Phoenix, Sacramento, Utah and Denver starting Saturday night. 

Brooklyn is in damage control mode, hoping to save a sinking ship without Durant. It's not necessarily panic time for Marks and company, but the Nets need contingency plans if the worst-case scenario plays out with Irving 

Nash questions validity of bombshell report about Harden

 As far as Steve Nash is concerned, both he and James Harden are on the same page. Speaking with reporters prior to Tuesday's tipoff against Los Angeles, Nash went as far as to say Harden has not verbalized any of the frustrations cited in the Bleacher Report story and even questioned the validity of the report.

It's no surprise that the head coach is not giving any credence to the notion that his star player is unhappy with the crunch time rotations and open to a change of scenery with a part-time Kyrie Irving and injuries to Kevin Durant and Joe Harris starting to derail a potential championship season.

The reality is, as Harden outlined, he's frustrated about a culmination of factors including: injuries, COVID-19 and inconsistencies plaguing the team.

Harden did not exactly include coaching in his list of gripes, but time will tell if his relationship deteriorates with Nash. Winning cures all and assuming three-fifths of the team's starting lineup is back intact by March, Harden may be singing a much different tune come playoff time.






Harden admits frustration with Nets' season from health, COVID-19 standpoint

 


James Harden acknowledged that things aren't going as planned this year in Brooklyn during a post game press conference following Tuesday night's loss to the Lakers at Barclays Center. With injuries to starters Kevin Durant, Joe Harris and floor leader Kyrie Irving eligible for only home games, Harden's been left with a makeshift supporting cast that has not only played limited court time together, but is comprised mostly of defensive oriented players.

Harden recorded his ninth triple-double of the season on Tuesday with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assist, while Patty Mills with 15 and DeAndre Bembry with 12, were the only other players to reach double figures in scoring.



Head coach Steve Nash started rookies Kessler Edwards and Day'Ron Sharpe, but they combined for only nine points on the night. 

Nash has been experimenting with different lineup combinations throughout the season, but with the Nets now 6-8 to start 2022 and sinking in the Eastern Conference rankings, there has to come a time where a consistent rotation can help build familiarity and continuity among the group.

Harden scoffed at some of the details outlined in the Bleacher Report story, indicating that if the words didn't come from him then they are exactly what they've been classified as, reports.

Harden also indicated that the frustration he's experiencing about the team's overall health and issues with consistency is a feeling that is shared organizationally.

Time will tell whether this frustration continues to mount leading up to and after the All-Star break. After all, winning does cure all and if the Nets get the three starters they're missing: Durant, Harris and Irving in a full-time capacity back in time for the playoffs, Harden's discontentment with the overall direction of the season can take a seismic shift in the right direction.




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