danvato wrote:TheHartBreakKid wrote:If there is any truth to this, it's hard to see why some form of Simmons for Harden trade wouldn't happen before the deadline. The summer makes no sense.
We will shortly know if this is Morey/ or fake bs. Literally almost no reason for any party to not make a trade happen now if Harden is even uncertain about his future.
why
Why would BK risk losing Harden in free agency IF he is hesitant about staying? If they think Harden is iffy about resigning (huge if), I don't think they'll bet on their questionable playoff chances to convince him to stay. Why would the Sixers wait around until summer and tank this offseason and waste a year of prime Embiid. Sixers don't benefit for waiting until the summer...they can't sign Harden the cap and would basically throw away the rest of this year if they don't trade Simmons.
Obviously Harden has nothing if he does want out and this goes to the offseason. He is still in a good situation to compete this playoffs, and can either test free agency or force a trade in the offseason to his preferred destination. However, IF, his preferred destination is Philly, I don't think he would mind an early trade either considering the huge question mark that is Kyrie playing home games. Philly arguably gives him a better/equal chance to compete this year.
Obviously, there are some huge ifs here which I'm hypothetically basing my point on, but IF Harden is really uncertain, and IF Philly is his preferred destination, it would be in the best interest of both Philly and BK to make the trade at this deadline. I'm simply saying that if a such trade was to happen, it would make a lot more sense for it to happen at the deadline vs the summer. Of course the summer would still be a possibility IF the nets roll the dice even if there is truth to the Harden rumors, but