There have been several reports that the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are working on a blockbuster trade ahead of Thursday’s deadline, and two of ESPN’s top NBA insiders seem to be on totally different sides with regard to the big news.
Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday morning that the Nets and Sixers are in active negotiations on a trade involving James Harden and Ben Simmons. He even went as far as to say he believes a deal will get done. Windhorst later said Harden badly wants out of Brooklyn and could make life difficult for the Nets if they don’t trade him.
Brian Windhorst implies James Harden is ready to sabotage the Nets season if they don’t trade him loooool pic.twitter.com/QBAU4lWvUv
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) February 9, 2022
Harden may want to be traded, but Adrian Wojnarowski has been told the Nets are not working toward granting the 10-time All-Star’s wish. ESPN’s top NBA insider says there is “no negotiation going on” between the Nets and Sixers. Woj said any talk of them going back and forth — which is what Windhorst claims is happening — is not accurate.
https://twitter.com/stepbckthirteen/status/1491468396210180097
That’s a bit awkward, to say the least. Windhorst and Wojnarowski obviously have different sources. That is not uncommon, but it is strange to see Woj directly refute a huge report from one of his own co-workers.
What is likely happening is that Woj and/or Windhorst are being used for leverage. Whatever the case, it is clear that the 76ers badly want Harden. They have roughly 24 hours to make that happen, otherwise they will have to wait until the summer.
