James Harden Causes More Trouble For Brooklyn Nets Even After Trade

James Harden is no longer a Brooklyn Net — but he’s still causing trouble for his now-former team.

Though video showed Harden landing in Philadelphia and meeting with GM Daryl Morey on Saturday, he did not officially report for his physical in time to get the blockbuster trade finalized before the Nets’ tipoff against the Heat in Miami. As a result, the Nets were forced to play without newly acquired Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, even though both players were ready and able to play.

The Nets ended up losing their 11th straight game, 115-111, at Miami despite 29 points, five rebounds and five assists from Kyrie Irving and 22 points, four rebounds and four assists from rookie Cam Thomas. Irving scored 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Nets’ last win came Jan. 21 — 22 days ago.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported at 8:26 p.m. — after the Nets game began — that Harden passed his physical, thereby completing the deal. The Sixers beat the Cavaliers, 103-93, Saturday without Harden.

Harden is expected to meet with the media on Tuesday, and it will be interesting to see what he says about his reasons for wanting out of Brooklyn and whether he specifically mentions Kyrie Irving’s part-time status due to his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Meantime, there are already billboards near Wells Fargo Center welcoming Harden to Philadelphia.

“The only thing that matters is raising the trophy at the end of the year,” Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin told NBCS. “We owe it to Philadelphia to win multiple championships. We’ve got to start with the first”

As for the Nets, they will now be without Irving for the next two weeks due to his status. He isn’t eligible to play until the team’s game Feb. 26 at the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

There is no timetable on when Ben Simmons will debut for the Nets, but Frank Isola of the YES Network said he believes Simmons could debut Feb. 24 against Boston.