James Harden Wants To Be Traded To Philadelphiia; Won’t Formally Demand Trade Due To Public Backlash

[EricAnderson]

Sixers have no leverage if the Nets don’t trade him there they can’t get him.

If I’m the Nets I don’t help out a division/conference rival get better.

If you don’t trade him to Philly is he gonna sign with some garbage team with cap space rather then stay with the Nets?

I doubt it.

Id roll the dice that Harden stays If I’m the Nets.

So risk losing one of your biggest assets for zilch, zero, nothing. Great play.

Or trade him and make the Sixers the favorite in the East.

Nets still can win a title with their current team

He’s not leaving that to sign with the Spurs or Pistons

[HardenGoat]

Is anyone really scared of KD and Ben Simmons in the playoffs? Let’s ignore Kyrie because he’s a part time player. But does Miami, Milwaukee, Bulls or Sixers lose sleep having to play Simmons and KD? Do the Cavs and Raptors even worry about them? KD+Harden is actually a fearsome because you know those two at the top of their game could carry a team for a couple of rounds. The point is that the Nets are just better off keeping Harden and tinkering around the edges of their roster is better than essentially giving up on their season by trading for Simmons and not getting enough compensation to make it worth it.

That make sense but you can't overlook the pink elephant in the locker room. Ever since Harden got to Brooklyn he has not seen what he was promised come to fruition. Kyrie has been in and out for whatever reason - always a personal one. Then he most likely promised he would get vaccinated and low and behold he doesn't and is guaranteed part status (never been happier he tweets). Again he doesn't have to give a reason, it's a personal "health" choice. Harden already knows what the team is capable of without him, he and Durant kept the team at or near the top of the East until their best wing shooter went down (Harris). His lob threat has been part time (Claxton). LMA is down. The rest are rookies or journey vets. The point is there is no guarantee at all when it comes to Kyrie. The pink elephant is "you can't trust Kyrie". Who is going to win a chip without full trust that your best players are going to be there to sacrifice and have your back? Harden is strongly pushing for out, if he's not in and Kyrie remains part time there is no chip run. Team is playing like they know it.

[Jadoogar]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

he can force his way out in FA

[Pointgod]

Is anyone really scared of KD and Ben Simmons in the playoffs? Let’s ignore Kyrie because he’s a part time player. But does Miami, Milwaukee, Bulls or Sixers lose sleep having to play Simmons and KD? Do the Cavs and Raptors even worry about them? KD+Harden is actually a fearsome because you know those two at the top of their game could carry a team for a couple of rounds. The point is that the Nets are just better off keeping Harden and tinkering around the edges of their roster is better than essentially giving up on their season by trading for Simmons and not getting enough compensation to make it worth it.

That make sense but you can't overlook the pink elephant in the locker room. Ever since Harden got to Brooklyn he has not seen what he was promised come to fruition. Kyrie has been in and out for whatever reason - always a personal one. Then he most likely promised he would get vaccinated and low and behold he doesn't and is guaranteed part status (never been happier he tweets). Again he doesn't have to give a reason, it's a personal "health" choice. Harden already knows what the team is capable of without him, he and Durant kept the team at or near the top of the East until their best wing shooter went down (Harris). His lob threat has been part time (Claxton). LMA is down. The rest are rookies or journey vets. The point is there is no guarantee at all when it comes to Kyrie. The pink elephant is "you can't trust Kyrie". Who is going to win a chip without full trust that your best players are going to be there to sacrifice and have your back? Harden is strongly pushing for out, if he's not in and Kyrie remains part time there is no chip run. Team is playing like they know it.

I agree with you. The solution should be “trade Kyrie”. All roads lead back to him being the problem. I don’t think if you said to Harden, hey we got you some more help, when KD is healthy we’ll put you in the best position to win and we can pay you the most money in the offseason, he’ll be like “no thanks boss”.

Maybe keeping Harden long term isn’t the best solution because he folds at the slightest bit of adversity, but if you want a guy who’s going to fight through adversity and be a team player Ben Simmons isn’t the answer.

[Hello Brooklyn]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

[Jadoogar]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Yea that's fair but the Nets are clearly struggling right now.
Harden looks terrible right now, Irving is a part timer, Durant is hurt. They could easily end up in the play in.

[Hello Brooklyn]

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Yea that's fair but the Nets are clearly struggling right now.
Harden looks terrible right now, Irving is a part timer, Durant is hurt. They could easily end up in the play in.

Is mental headcase Simmons the solution though?

[HardenToSixers]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

Ben Simmons is on the books for as long as Philly wants to trade him. James Harden likely diminishes to a zero after this trade deadline for the Nets. So your assessment is wrong.

[HardenToSixers]

Sixers have no leverage if the Nets don’t trade him there they can’t get him.

Factually incorrect unless he wants to stay in Brooklyn this off-season which seems unlikely. Try again.

[madmaxmedia]

I love the "the Sixers will just sign Harden in the offseason" which ignores their cap situation. No one wants broken down Toby Harris and his albatross contract. Simmons is the only valuable trade piece they are willing to move.

I think both teams are incentivized to work out a deal, you might do a little better if you wait OTOH a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. They are both posturing right now about how they don't need to do the deal, and not surprising they are dickering over the other pieces that would be included.

But as the deadline approaches I think there is enough overlap here for a deal to get done.

[Hello Brooklyn]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

Ben Simmons is on the books for as long as Philly wants to trade him. James Harden likely diminishes to a zero after this trade deadline for the Nets. So your assessment is wrong.

Simmons is on the book and contributing nothing to your team but eating up cap room.

Harden can be easily exchanged for Simmons in the offseason. Or resigned if things turn around.

[ProcessDoctor]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Portland, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination?

He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

[Hello Brooklyn]

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination? He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

Weve been over this. Its nearly impossible to dump Tobias for no salary back.

Only Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio could do it. Which would mean they would need to dedicate the entirety of their cap space to him. Without the ability to resign any of their own free agents or add anyone else to their team.

It won't happen.

Not to mention why weaken your own team by dumping Tobias when you could just trade Harden for Simmons directly?

[HardenToSixers]

The desperation Philly has to get rid of Simmons does not exist for the Nets.

Ben Simmons is dead weight for Philly. A lost asset.

Once the trade deadline ends what does Harden do? Keep quitting?

He has to start playing again. Once KD comes back the Nets are as good as anyone in the East.

What is the incentive to make the deal for the Nets right now? Unless Philly makes it worth it.

Ben Simmons is on the books for as long as Philly wants to trade him. James Harden likely diminishes to a zero after this trade deadline for the Nets. So your assessment is wrong.

Simmons is on the book and contributing nothing to your team but eating up cap room.

Harden can be easily exchanged for Simmons in the offseason. Or resigned if things turn around.

If Harden wants to go to the Sixers why would we give you Simmons in a sign and trade. He’s a free agent. You’re not being remotely realistic about the leverage you would have in that situation.

[basketballRob]

he can force his way out in FA

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Portland, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination?

He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

None of those teams want Harris.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[ProcessDoctor]

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination? He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

Weve been over this. Its nearly impossible to dump Tobias for no salary back.

Only Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio could do it. Which would mean they would need to dedicate the entirety of their cap space to him. Without the ability to resign any of their own free agents or add anyone else to their team.

It won't happen.

Portland, San Antonio, Detroit, and/or Orlando could literally just absorb Simmon's with nothing but picks and a small contract going back Philly's way.

Add a pick from the Simmons deal or one of Philly's own to whoever's taking on Tobias's contract. Portland literally just received a 1st for CJ's contract, and not too long ago Washington received a 1st for Westbrook's. People had the same mentality towards Horford and Kemba before they got traded too. There's always a taker.

[Pointgod]

Ben Simmons is on the books for as long as Philly wants to trade him. James Harden likely diminishes to a zero after this trade deadline for the Nets. So your assessment is wrong.

Simmons is on the book and contributing nothing to your team but eating up cap room.

Harden can be easily exchanged for Simmons in the offseason. Or resigned if things turn around.

If Harden wants to go to the Sixers why would we give you Simmons in a sign and trade. He’s a free agent. You’re not being remotely realistic about the leverage you would have in that situation.

Yes this is exactly the balanced and nuanced take that I expect from someone with the profile HardenToSixers…

[Jadoogar]

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination? He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

Weve been over this. Its nearly impossible to dump Tobias for no salary back.

Only Detroit, Orlando and San Antonio could do it. Which would mean they would need to dedicate the entirety of their cap space to him. Without the ability to resign any of their own free agents or add anyone else to their team.

It won't happen.

Not to mention why weaken your own team by dumping Tobias when you could just trade Harden for Simmons directly?

OKC could take him, they have done this for Horford and Kemba.

[JRoy]

Great. Then we will get Simmons anyway.

Why is that an assumption? Why wouldn't Morey trade Simmons to a team like San Antonio, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Portland, etc. for smaller contracts/picks followed by a Tobias trade to the same or different destination?

He could sign Harden outright at that point and get extra assets in the process. I feel like if Marks is being petty/cheap now, Morey will have no reason to help him this summer.

None of those teams want Harris.

Sent from my SM-G950U using RealGM Forums mobile app

Not convinced any team wants Harris on that contract.

CJs contract is awful too and he got moved so maybe there is a chance.

[JHFVF07]

And we`re assuming Harden will be ok lefting U$80M on the table? When the FA hit he will tell Morey to make a sign and trade or he will resign(and probably ask for a trade after).