The Nets trade James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.
Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers struck a sensational deal just hours before Thursday's deadline, with James Harden and Paul Millsap going to Philadelphia and Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round draft picks headed to Brooklyn.
According to Wojnarowski, Brooklyn will receive Philadelphia's 2022 unprotected first-round picks and the right to postpone it until 2023, as well as the top 8 protected first-round picks in 2027. The draft pick will remain in the top 8 protections in 2028 and will turn into two second-round picks — and $2 million in cash — if neither season can be cashed out, the sources said.
The deal freed both teams from the unhappy superstars who had been seeking a deal. For the Phillies, it meant the end of a months-long saga surrounding Simmons. Shortly after the 76ers lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, Simmons asked to be traded.
Aside from a brief practice session at training camp in mid-October, Simmons hasn't been on the team since and haven't played a single game this season. Sources told ESPN's Ramona Sherborn that Simmons will continue to work with his therapist to mentally prepare for the game in Brooklyn.
"This is a work in progress," a source close to Simmons told Sherborne. Simmons has spoken to Nets star Kevin Durant, and his agent, Rich Paul, told Warnerowski. According to Paul, Simmons is eager to join the Nets and is ready to make a comeback this season.
All we have to do is get him back to play, but it's a great step in the right direction. Paul told Wojnarowski. Meanwhile, Harden's relationship with the Nets has broken down in recent days, with sources telling Voynerovsky that Harden has formally refused to ask for a trade, fearing doing so for the second time in a little over a year. But the Nets wanted to trade him.
After Harden was forced to leave Houston after more than eight seasons with the Houston Rockets, the Nets traded four first-round picks and three swaps, plus centers Jarrett Allen and Caris Levert, the former league MVP is now on his journey again.
Sources confirmed to ESPN's Bobby Max that Harden has exercised his $47.4 million player selection for the 2022-23 season as part of the deal. The 10-time All-Star qualified to sign a four-year, $223 million extension with the Philadelphia 76ers in August.
The 76ers canceled Thursday afternoon training, which coach Doug Rivers said was a "human" issue. The thing to do, consider the noise surrounding his team over the past few months. "Very strange," said. "I canceled the exercise. Too many things have happened, too many rumors. I just think that what humans should do compared to coaches is to tell our players very directly and tell them I understand. Everybody's name and all these things.
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"So we're going to have shooting training with our team tomorrow, I promise." The team will now include Harden and Millsap, but not Simmons and Curry, who is also Rivers' son-in-law. Curry averaged 15 points, four assists and 40 percent from three-point range, forming a strong chemistry with Philadelphia superstar center Joel Embiid.
But that's not enough to stop a transaction from happening. Curry's addition allowed the 76ers to retain two of their top young players, guard Teres Maxi and third-year forward Matisse Tebur. Drummond will bring more interior to Brooklyn that the Nets have lacked this season.
Sources told Voynarovsky that the Brooklyns continue to trade ahead of the deadline and continue to adjust the lineup. Meanwhile, with Harden reuniting with 76ers basketball operations president Morey, the Phillies can finally move forward in the case of Simmons, who traded Harden at Houston.
After Thursday's trade, the Nets remain a title favourite. The Caesars Sportsbook kept the Nets' odds at 4-1 to win the championship while shortening the 76ers from 12-1 to 7-1. Other bookmakers, however, have brought back Brooklyn's chances of winning the title. On Thursday, Westgate's Superbook in Las Vegas raised the Nets' odds from 6-1 to 10-1. SuperBook's favorites to win were the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, both of which won at odds of 9_2. This was followed by the 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, both 6-1. The Nets are a favorite of most sports fans.