Things are officially heating up ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline.
According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to pursue James Harden in the coming days and the Nets are believed to be open to discussing a potential deal.
This is contrary to previous reports that the Sixers and Nets could engage in trade talks involving Simmons and Harden in the offseason.
Simmons, 25, has not played a single game this season as he has grown disgruntled with the organization.
Meanwhile, the Sixers have yet to deal Simmons because they do not believe they have received any offers that have matched their high asking price of an All-Star in return.
Harden, who will not play Friday due to a tight hamstring, was named to his 10th All-Star team last week and is still one of the best players in the league.
Clearly, he fits that bill, but has long been viewed by the Nets as a critical piece of the team’s core to make a championship run. However, an opening could exist if the Nets receive an offer they believe would improve the roster in pursuit oof a championship.
Per Charania, there has also been growing concerns over Harden’s playing style in Brooklyn that contrasts with the free-flowing, organic approach from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Nets game plan seems to shift in style depending on when Harden is on and off the floor, which has also been a point of contention for the coaching staff and players, Charania added.
The Sixers will still have to give up a decent haul for Harden, so there is no guarantee a deal gets done by Thursday, but the newfound openness from the Nets has certainly made things a bit more intriguing, to say the least.
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