After speaking on the James Harden trade rumors, Nets head coach Steve Nash was asked bluntly if he was indicating that Brooklyn has no plans to deal Harden before Thursday’s deadline.
Nash didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Nash said before Sunday’s loss to the Nuggets, the team’s eight in a row.
So, while rumors swirl that Harden is frustrated with the current state of the Nets and that the team is open to discussing a deal with the 76ers that would include Ben Simmons, Nash says that the team remains committed to Harden, and vice versa.
“This has been a constant thing since December,” Nash said. “He's continually reiterated that he wants to be here, and we've continually said that we want him here. That's our best chance to win.”
Harden is currently laboring through a steep offensive decline since putting up MVP-caliber numbers with the Nets last season, and is now once again battling injury. Meanwhile, Brooklyn has slipped all the way down into a play-in spot after being first in the East just two weeks ago. But Nash insists that the team is sticking to its original mindset that its superstar trio can get healthy and come together just in time to make a run at a title that many thought was highly likely when this big three of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving was formed.
“Nothing’s changed from the communication we’ve had,” Nash said. “We just want to be conservative with him so we don’t lose him for big stretches. We think when he’s healthy and Kevin is healthy and Kyrie plays, we’re a completely different team. We’re excited about that.”
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