The Nets crew dealing with Boston on Sunday within the first spherical of the playoffs seems totally different than the one which eradicated the Celtics final Might. That’s because of a megatrade with the 76ers — one which regarded useless within the water till each house owners obtained concerned.
Within the Feb. 10 commerce, the Nets despatched James Harden and Paul Millsap to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry and two first-round picks. The deal had come collectively rapidly, from Harden kind-of, sort-of expressing a need to go away two days earlier to a name between crew house owners Joe Tsai and Josh Harris that spurred issues alongside and eventually to frantic negotiations the morning of the commerce deadline.
Simmons had requested a commerce way back to August 2021, the identical week the NBA despatched a memo to groups that it will honor any native COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Some NBA followers urged swapping the unvaccinated Kyrie Irving for Simmons. Because it turned out it was the Nets different star guard who went.
However Harden, who eschews confrontation, was by no means as direct with the Nets as Simmons was with Philadelphia.
The veteran Harden had parted methods with brokers Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields of Wasserman (whom he’d engaged to facilitate his transfer out of Houston) and employed his buddy Lorenzo McCloud in August. And whereas Nets normal supervisor Sean Marks totally anticipated Harden to signal an extension earlier than opening evening, it didn’t occur.
Harden reportedly didn’t really feel as welcomed in Brooklyn as Irving and Kevin Durant, however he by no means informed the Nets that. Consequently, when 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey — Harden’s GM in Houston — known as Marks two or three weeks earlier than the commerce deadline providing a bundle that included the likes of Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe, he was informed the Nets had little interest in transferring the previous MVP.
The three-time scoring champion’s play dipped and his effort got here into query as discuss across the league grew of his disgruntlement. Lastly, Harden and McCloud known as Marks on Feb. 8, a Tuesday, and intimated he needed to go away.
Marks known as Tsai, who reached out on to FaceTime with Harden. He pressed Harden on whether or not he needed to be traded.
“He didn’t say instantly I need out, however he mainly was disgruntled, he was sad,” mentioned a supply accustomed to the state of affairs.
To that time, Tsai had been keen to increase Harden long run and pay him $62 million on the age of 37. However after that decision, the Nets shifted focus.
Marks and Morey talked, however there was no motion the remainder of that Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Lastly, Tsai known as Harris.
“[They’re] fairly good pals, pleasant with one another,” mentioned a supply, calling them “companions on this enterprise known as the NBA.”
Harris was informed if the 76ers have been severe a few Simmons bundle to ensure Morey got here again with a suggestion that topped the one they seen as “sub-optimal.”
Thursday morning that’s precisely what occurred, with the house owners stepping again and each GMs haggling over backcourt items — Mattise Thybulle was talked about, however the Nets as a substitute obtained Curry. However the final piece included was Drummond.
Harden made his playoff debut for the 76ers on Saturday, whereas Drummond and Curry will take the courtroom for the Nets in Boston. Simmons has but to go well with up for the Nets as he rehabs a nasty again, however that may very well be on the horizon after the Nets have been remade on a wild 48-hour stretch two months in the past that may map out their future for years to come back.
Each the NBA and the Nets’ mum or dad firm, BSE, denied that Tsai ever tried to get Morey fired over his tweet supporting the Hong Kong protestors.
“[Tsai] by no means requested or intimated to the league workplace that Daryl Morey ought to be fired or that we should always apologize,” mentioned NBA govt VP Mike Bass.
One other supply mentioned the Nets didn’t refuse Morey’s request for a set at a November 2019 Rockets recreation. After he’d requested a set to host 16 company for a celebration, Barclays Heart obtained wind of potential protests — each professional and versus Hong Kong — and provided to ebook an off-site location for security causes.
Morey opted to not attend.
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