On February 11, Beijing time, the NBA trade deadline was closed, and the Nets sent James Harden and Paul Millsap to Philadelphia in exchange for Simmons, Curry Jr., Andre Drummond and 2 first rounds. After Harden left the team, he also announced the complete dissolution of the Nets' Big Three. According to statistics, since Harden joined the Nets, he and Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving formed a big three, at the same time only played 16 games, during which the Nets only won 1 round of playoffs.
Talking about the dissolution of the Nets' big three, many fans also felt sorry. After the Nets got Harden from the Rockets, they thought that the Big Three could lead the Nets into the playoffs, but it backfired. First of all, the team suffered from injuries, Irving and Harden were absent due to injury last season, and after the season began, Irving was banned by the league for refusing to vaccinate, so the time of the Big Three was very limited, so that the Nets' record this season did not reach the expected goal.
It is reported that after Philadelphia's deal with the Nets is reached, Harden will execute the $47.3 million player option for the 2022-23 season, which also means that Harden will continue to represent Philadelphia next season. Previously, Harden's contract will expire in 2023, but he will have a player option in the summer of 2022, and he can choose to jump out of the contract to become a free agent. Harden's choice to execute player options shows that Harden wants to prove himself in Philadelphia and help the team take it a step further on the playoff stage.
After Harden joins Philadelphia, the team's outside problems will be solved, and Rivers will not have to be troubled by the plight of the team's outside line without the ball. Harden's scoring ability and organizational strategy should help Embiid share the pressure on the offensive end, but Philadelphia also lost Simmons, which also means that their defensive depth will be affected.