‘The Ball Is In The Nets’ Court’

The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are open to discussing a James Harden-for-Ben Simmons deal that could involve other pieces, according to a report from The Athletic.

“The ball is in the Nets’ court,” one league source said.

The NBA trade deadline is 3 p.m. on Thursday.

It is not known whether Harden officially requested a trade from Brooklyn, but a second league source said, “I think Brooklyn knows he is not coming back.”

Harden, who was just named to his 10th All-Star Game while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and 8.0 rebounds, has a player option for next season at $47.4 million and did not sign an extension in October. He joined the Nets in January 2021 in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets and has been a part of Brooklyn’s “Big 3” along with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who signed with the Nets in free agency in the summer of 2019.

Asked about his conversations with Harden amid the trade rumors ahead of Friday’s game at Utah, Nets coach Steve Nash told reporters: “We’re in lockstep, so I don’t think he pays attention in that way where it affects him. And he certainly knows my tone is like ‘its me and you, buddy. We’ve got to figure this out and keep going, keep pushing.”

Harden has reportedly grown frustrated with Irving’s part-time status due to his refusal to get vaccinated and is intent on becoming a free agent. Harden has down-played those reports but did admit to being frustrated with the team’s lack of overall success.

With Durant sidelined with a left MCL strain, the Nets (29-22) have lost six straight and fallen to the No. 6 seed in the East heading into Friday’s game in Utah. They remain the betting favorites to win the NBA title despite all the adversity.

“I don’t know about any reports,” Harden told reporters last week. “Of course I’m frustrated, because we’re not healthy, there’s a lot of inconsistencies for whatever reason: injuries, COVID, whatever you want to call it. But yeah, it’s frustrating.”

Simmons hasn’t played for the Sixers all season after he showed up late to start the season after training in Los Angeles and has since cited mental health issues while sitting out.

Simmons has expressed his desire to be traded but the Sixers have been holding out to make sure they get a commensurate talent in return.

Dave Simmons, Ben’s father grew up in the South Bronx before playing professionally in Australia, and one source said it would be Ben’s “dream” to play for the Nets or Knicks in New York.

“People should buckle in. This is going to take a long time,” Sixers GM Daryl Morey said in an October radio interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Thursday, per ESPN.

Simmons is due to make $33 million this season and has four years and $147 million left on his contract.

Simmons reportedly got vaccinated this week after initially showing up to training camp unvaccinated. Being vaccinated would enable him to play in home games at Barclays Center.