On February 12, Beijing time, ESPN's two famous names, Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, jointly reported the inside story of the negotiations between the Nets and the 76ers on the deal. How exactly did the two sides finally reach this blockbuster deal for Simmons and Harden?
In the final hours of the negotiations, 76ers management shouted at Nets general manager Max on the phone: "Don't hang up! It was 1:15 p.m. ET, and the 76ers implored the Nets to stay in touch until they finally struck such a deal.
At the beginning of the season, Harden kept telling Nets owner Tsai Chongxin and general manager Max that he wanted to stay in the team for a long time, but at the same time, he began to ask some agents about the strategy of eventually joining Philadelphia. At that time, Harden told the Nets top brass: "Don't believe any rumors, if there is a problem, you will hear me directly." ”
Harden had thought playing for the Nets would be closer to winning the title, but he's changed his mind recently. Finally, as the trade deadline approached, he personally told Max and Tsai chongxin that he would prefer to play for the 76ers. Sources revealed that Harden told the general manager and boss via FaceTime video call that he wanted to be traded to Philadelphia.
The Nets' top brass responded that they would only strike deals in the team's favor, and a year ago, the Nets lost a lot of assets to get Harden, including Jarrett Allen and Le Vere, four first-round picks and four first-round swaps. The Nets are unable to recover those assets, and they need to get a substantial enough return on the deal with the 76ers before they are willing to trade.
Harden told the Nets executives that he could understand this, and the Nets executives agreed that Harden would not have to play before the trade deadline. Harden then informed the team that he would return to Houston on Thursday Beijing time and other news, while the Nets, who had lost nine consecutive games at the time, set out for Washington and eventually suffered a 10-game losing streak. 76ers coach Rivers and Harden have always had a good relationship, and after the Clippers fired Rivers, the Rockets once wanted to hire Rivers as manager.
The article also revealed that Harden's nightlife habits have not changed, just in the Nets' latest trip to the west, he still went to the nightclub, and his unstable state may also be related to this habit. The US media said that perhaps Harden in his 20s can maintain this habit of life without affecting the state of the game, but now that he is in his 30s, the situation is different.
Back on the day of the talks, the 76ers offered several options first, but Max said he wasn't interested, but as the deal deadline approached, the two sides reached a growing consensus. Philadelphia insisted on not putting Sebel in the scheme, while Brooklyn insisted on two first rounds, but both teams faced a difficult situation and had a greater impact on the team if the deal was not reached. Under such a premise, the two sides reached a deal.