SALT LAKE CITY — May the honeymoon be over for the Nets and James Harden?
The Nets are reportedly open to discussing the 76ers’ longstanding pursuit of Harden, one thing they'd rejected out of hand up up to now.
Harden has shut ties with Philadelphia president Daryl Morey from their days along with the Rockets. Morey tried to commerce for the previous MVP earlier than the Nets landed him. Morey’s curiosity by no means pale, however the Nets had initially refused to even countenance affords till this coming offseason.
Till now.
The Athletic reported not solely will the 76ers pursue Harden forward of the NBA commerce deadline, which is Thursday, but additionally the Nets will have interaction and hear. A supply instructed The Put up “there’s one thing there.”
Harden has been struggling recently, however Nets coach Steve Nash chalked it as much as the tight left hamstring that sidelined him Friday at Utah, and to not being distracted by commerce stories.
“I talked to James round lunchtime and we’re in lockstep,” Nash instructed The Put up. “So I don’t I don’t assume he pays consideration in that method the place it impacts him.
“And he actually is aware of my tone is like, ‘It’s me and also you, buddy. We’ve acquired to determine this out and preserve going, preserve pushing.’ So I believe that’s an outdoor noise factor moderately than one thing that we’re internally going, ‘Wait a minute.’ No, I believe we’re like, ‘Right here we go, extra noise.’ ”
However the noise has been rising in league circles.
Any potential take care of Philadelphia would focus on 25-year-old guard Ben Simmons, who's eight years youthful than Harden. The 76ers even have potential commerce items reminiscent of Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle.
Simmons hasn’t performed this season, citing mental-health points. How or when these points would clear up ought to Simmons be traded is a thriller, as is how lengthy he would want to get into sport form.
It’s simply as large a thriller whether or not Harden would even re-sign with the Nets. He declined a three-year, $161 million extension this previous offseason. Harden would stand to take advantage of cash if he have been to re-sign with the Nets (probably a four-year, $227 million extension), however personnel across the league imagine there now could be extra of an opportunity he might be traded on the deadline than there was just a few weeks in the past.
Morey isn’t Harden’s solely shut tie to Philadelphia. He is also pleasant with 76ers CEO Tad Brown (previously the Rockets’ CEO) and co-owner Michael Rubin (CEO of Fanatics). Harden is also buddies with Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill.
Harden was dominated out of the sport Friday due to the identical hamstring drawback that compelled him to take a seat out a Jan. 26 loss to the Nuggets. Harden additionally was a late scratch for the loss final Saturday at Golden State with a pressure in his proper (non-shooting) hand.
After coming back from the hand harm, Harden shot 6-for-19 total Tuesday in a loss at Phoenix and 2-for-11 the following evening in a loss at Sacramento. The 4 factors Harden scored in opposition to the Kings have been his lowest level output since 2014 in a sport by which he logged at the least half-hour. He compounded it with six turnovers and a technical foul to complete minus-21.
“The final one for positive, he felt some consciousness of [the hamstring], so I believe it was an element. I do know it was an element,” stated Nash, including Harden didn’t require an MRI examination. “I don’t assume it’s that unhealthy. I believe it’s extra simply precaution, actually ensure we will strengthen him, give him an additional day, see if that offers us large dividends, as a result of it’s not value risking him being like final yr.”
Getting into Friday, the Nets had misplaced six straight and had did not get Harden and Kyrie Irving in sync. They have been 16-3 final season in video games with Harden and Irving, however with out Kevin Durant, however simply 2-4 in such video games this season. Harden and Irving are a minus-12 of their 172 minutes with out Durant.
When requested why the Nets have been so wildly inconsistent, Harden stated: “ simply nearly as good as I do. , we’ve simply acquired a whole lot of various things internally, lineups, and we haven’t had no continuity but.”
Pressed on whether or not Irving’s part-time standing and Durant’s MCL harm have pushed the Nets to a breaking level, Harden replied: “I don’t know. I do know we’re on a six-game dropping streak. I do know that.”
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