Philadelphia 76ers’ president of basketball operations Daryl Morey finally got his wish. The 76ers managed to swap disgruntled All-Star guard Ben Simmons for the Brooklyn Nets’ superstar and 2018’s NBA MVP James Harden.
The deal was finalized just before the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday. Besides Simmons, the 76ers are sending marksman Seth Curry, center Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks to Brooklyn as well. On the other hand, veteran guard Paul Millsap will arrive in Philly alongside Harden.
The 76ers and the Nets are content with the deal. Philadelphia managed to get Simmons, who asked to be traded in the summer, out of town while receiving a superstar in return. For Brooklyn, the deal was about moving an unhappy player in Harden and getting young and better defensively while also acquiring valuable picks.
Ben Simmons didn’t play at all in 2021-22, first refusing to join the team and then citing mental health as the roadblock on his return to court. The 25-year-old, who has three All-Star appearances on his resume, averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists last season.
James Harden arrived in Brooklyn from the Houston Rockets in early 2021 and was supposed to be a part of the Nets’ three-headed monster alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But injuries and other issues prevented the trio from showing what they were capable of. In the meantime, Harden became unhappy with his role on the team and reportedly welcomed the opportunity to go to Philly with great enthusiasm.
In Philadelphia, Harden will reunite with Morey, who also traded for him in 2012 while he was general manager of the Rockets. While the two were together in Houston, the Rockets never missed out on the playoffs while reaching two Western Conference Finals.
Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 10.2 assists in 2021-22. He is set to become a free agent in the summer if he declines his player option and would be eligible to sign a five-year contract worth $275 million.
