Durant was the last to say "change." Because the team is increasingly worried that they will lose this season and eventually lose Harden in vain.
On February 15, Beijing time, Jack Fisher, a reporter from the Open Stand, revealed the insider trading between Harden and Simmons, and he mentioned what role Durant played in the whole process.
After talking to Nets insiders and people around Durant, they all believed that the Nets would not replace Harden without KD nodding. But with Harden's attitude of going very clear, Durant's idea has become the focus of everyone's attention. "KD doesn't want Harden to go," said a source familiar with the two superstars, "but he knows it's all over." ”
"KD ends up with: F**k it (forget it), can't let Harden bring more chaos." Another person with insider knowledge said, "If KD hadn't made up his mind, I don't think the Nets would trade." ”
In the weeks leading up to the deadline, KD had heard that Harden was willing to stay in the team, and when Harden was sidelined with a hamstring injury, KD was one of the players inside the Nets who doubted the severity of his injury. On the morning of the trade deadline, KD dialed nets general manager Sean Max. Although KD initially refused to trade Harden for Simmons, the back-to-back losses and Harden's careless level of commitment left the team shaky.
"KD was the one who finally pulled the trigger." Another insider said, "KD was the last person to say 'change.'" Because the team is increasingly worried that they will lose this season and eventually lose Harden in vain. ”
KD insists he fully trusts Max in making decisions, but his relationship with Nash is important to Nash as manager and KD has had an impact on many of the team's operations, such as the selection of Cameron Thomas. In addition, KD also repeatedly mentioned that he hopes that the team will not replace Thomas by the deadline.
Owen came back part-time and also had KD lobbying for management. That could be the final moment of unity between KD and Harden, who also wants Owen to come back to help and has publicly hinted several times that he wants Owen to get vaccinated.
But in fact, according to sources familiar with the two, KD has been a little frustrated with Harden's state since the beginning of training camp. In the previous offseason, it was Harden and Duou training together that gave Harden the idea of going to the Nets. But Harden and KD have never set foot in the same gym this past summer, and KD is not happy with Harden's training status in the early days of his return to the new season. Meanwhile, Harden wants to face the free agent market for the first time.
It wasn't a big deal, but as Irving was sidelined, the burden on the two became heavier and their relationship became more strained. "KD and Harden have had a Cold War over the last few months that has made everyone miserable." A person familiar with the matter said.
Entering December, rumors of Duden's non-communication spread in the league, while Embiid was playing MVP-level dominance. One observer thought Embiid had begun to think about which superstar to partner with, while Harden's sidekick revealed that what he saw in Embiid was another star eager to win his first ring. Irving, meanwhile, would rather miss half of the Nets' playoffs than vaccinate.
"Irving was allowed to do whatever he wanted, but Harden knew he had no time to waste and he needed to fight for his first title." Sources around Harden revealed.
When winter comes, some people inside the Nets will complain about the situation with other team members at certain social events. Harden's poor physical condition has not helped him adapt to the game under the new rules. KD and Nash tend to play human-moving offense, a pattern Dantney helped build last season, but Harden prefers his slow singles basketball. Some Nets coaches will roll their eyes after noticing certain timeouts that set up tactics for KD.
"A lot of superstars are passive-aggressive personalities." A coach said.
Then durant injured his knee in mid-January, and with Joe Harris' injury, harden would still have to play alone in the home game even if Irving played on the road, just as he did before he left the Rockets. So while KD was preparing to rest until after the All-Star game, rumors about Harden going to Philadelphia were turning into signs that could be captured.
Until the deadline week, Harden was still talking to the Nets when he expressed his willingness to stay on the team, but at the same time he began to estrange from the team, similar to the rockets' final period. After playing the Spurs and bombarding a 37+ triple-double, Harden left the team to play in a Houston nightclub. He later met the team in Minnesota and then scored just 13 points on 13-throw shooting against the Timberwolves.
After the Jan. 25 single-core defeat to the Lakers, Harden publicly refuted the Open Stand report (saying he didn't like the One in New York), but people noticed his frustration. Harden then missed the game against the Nuggets, which attracted the attention of the whole league, and Durant also began to doubt Harden's loyalty to the team from then on.
The MRI showed that Harden's hamstrings were indeed inflamed, which made the Nets worried about the situation last April, so although people doubted Harden's loyalty, they still wanted Harden to recover from his injuries and avoid bigger problems.
At the end of last year's regular season, Harden was often scheduled to do hamstring treatment in the morning, and as a result, there was miscommunication here. After a late-night outing, Harden said his hamstring was fine, but he was injured again after playing 4 minutes and 22 seconds against the Knicks. And eventually affected his playoff second round against the Bucks.
Back recently, Harden played in primetime games against the Suns, but after playing the Kings, the Nets clearly realized that Harden didn't want to play — that was Harden's last appearance for the Nets — even more than the previous game against the Timberwolves, who only scored 4 points and made 6 turnovers.
After the Nets arrived in Utah, the team members began to discuss the attitude of replacing Harden for Simmons, and everyone was increasingly frustrated that the Nets were giving superstar special treatment.
Before Doué came to Brooklyn, Max had been preaching the idea that it was a family culture in which all people were accountable to each other and no individual could transcend the collective. But that spirit vanished in February. "The atmosphere in the house was like, 'We're just living in their world.'" A person who was present at the time said.
Harden didn't reach the arena until halftime, according to sources. After the game, the Nets went to Denver on schedule, while Harden flew to Las Vegas. When asking another person close to Harden about this matter, the other party responded: "This does sound like Harden did it, doesn't it?" ”
Back in the Rockets period, Harden often went to Las Vegas after playing Jazz away games because it was close. He will stay on the road to Los Angeles and wait until the next away game to meet the team. At that time, Wei Shao and Harden had the same privileges. This time Harden flew from casino to Denver, and then it was late again.
The members of the Nets still want to continue to believe in Harden, they need a healthy Harden to compete with the team for the championship, and everyone has made such a commitment. It is reported that KD has always had this hope, a person close to Harden said: "KD has always hoped that the situation can be better. ”
It wasn't until Harden officially told the Nets what he told the people around him that he wanted to go to Philadelphia, and it was all over. In the Green Army game, Harden came to the Nets bench very late, and the next day left Brooklyn and returned to Houston. While KD and Nets management were agonizing over the impending negotiations with the 76ers, Harden went to the nightclub again. A source next to Harden said: "Harden knows the deal is not running. ”
On the other side, the Philadelphia 76ers are struggling to negotiate with the Nets. The 76ers are adamant not to leave Maxi and Sable, but they have always been willing to play the draft pick. They just need the Nets to listen to themselves.
Philadelphia management knows the fickleness of NBA superstars as much as any other executive, and nothing in Houston has helped Harden win the championship, but Philadelphia executives are convinced that the team can trade Simmons for Harden. He's witnessed too many star collaborations crash with the Rockets, so he believes there will be superstars seeking to move to new teams soon after. Harden, Lillard and Bill have been the main targets for the 76ers.
Both the Simmons camp and the rest of the league felt that Philadelphia executives were trying to get Harden around. He left the Rockets in the first place, harden asked for a trade shortly after he left, and then he had to trade Harden just after he arrived in Philadelphia. And there are Harden's friends among Philadelphia management and shareholders. Many people want the League to investigate the part behind the illegal recruitment, but everyone feels that this is useless.
This is the modern NBA, James, thick eyebrows can talk to Wei Shao, DeRozan, Lillard, superstars have this kind of power. The Heat and Bulls did get penalized, but the costs were not worth the price compared to what they got.
When KD finally made a statement to Max, the Nets began negotiations with the 76ers, but they didn't know what chips the other side would make. Regarding Sable, the Nets explored what other teams had to say about him, and in the end, the 76ers gave 2 first rounds for the Nets to complete the game.
"It's a league that belongs to the players, no doubt about it." A 76-man source said.
Wen | Kong Dexin
Edit | Fat Cat