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Huh? What are you rambling about?You probably watch more Laker games than anybody
The Official Off-Season NBA Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by pmatic,
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moe200069
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C'mon Trey, this some BS
if there's one thing i can't stand about the nba, it's not the blowouts, it's this.
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i feel like i’ve seen more zone this year than usual.
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Brooklyn Nets dismissed Philadelphia 76ers' interest in James Harden, sources say
When Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey reached out to Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks on Jan. 11, they started with the usual pleasantries of basketball executives still a month away from Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Who do you like on our roster? Here's who I like on yours.
Eventually, Morey spoke up on the true intention of his call.
"What about James?"
"James who?" Marks responded.
The Nets do have two James -- Johnson and Harden.
"James Harden."
"No," Marks said flatly.
That exchange four weeks ago represents the single, direct communication between Morey and Marks this season, sources told ESPN. However brief the conversation, messages were delivered in each direction: The Sixers planned a pursuit of Harden, and the Nets had no intention of surrender.
With three days to go until the trade deadline, this is where the dialogue has remained. Yes, Morey could still pick up the phone and call Marks this week. The Sixers' ownership group have a strong relationship with Nets owner Joe Tsai, so communication can happen on that level, too.
For now, the lack of clarity centered on Harden's intentions represent the axis on which the circumstances could shift in the Nets' murky partnership with him. Harden can become a free agent after this season, and while he has continued to tell his Nets teammates, coaches and the front office that he is committed to winning in Brooklyn long term, his actions on and away from the court suggest some ambivalence.
Harden hasn't had an agent in several years, but he does have a business manager, Lorenzo McCloud. When Harden wanted out of Houston before the 2020 season, he commissioned agents Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields at Wasserman to work with the Houston Rockets and rival teams to facilitate a trade. They played a key role in getting Harden to the Nets, and then the working relationship ended in March of 2021, sources said.
Once again, sources told ESPN, Harden and his manager have been searching for an agent to partner and navigate the situation -- whether that's free agency, a sign-and-trade to leave the Nets after the season, staying on a new deal, or even a trade prior to Thursday's deadline.
When Harden considered signing an extension last summer, he handled it the way he did his past two deals in Houston: Discussing the pros and cons of different contract iterations with the National Basketball Players Association. That's why he didn't want to pay an agent's commission; he was a superstar player who needed no negotiation. He could pick his preferred max contract on a menu the way someone else might choose an HMO plan.
Ultimately, Harden did not sign an extension with the Nets, and at the end of September, he told ESPN's Malika Andrews he was looking forward to becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. Before then, he insisted he was focused on winning a championship with Brooklyn.
So far, the season hasn't lived up to those expectations. Kyrie Irving has been a part-time player due to his COVID-19 vaccination status in New York, Kevin Durant has been out for nearly a month with a knee injury, and Brooklyn has dropped to seventh in the Eastern Conference after an eight-game losing streak.
Harden has sat out the past two games with a hamstring injury, following a listless four-point performance in a loss to Sacramento last Wednesday.
Brooklyn is trusting that the injury is a legitimate hindrance to Harden playing now -- an MRI Saturday confirmed there was tightness -- the way it is trusting his word that he wants to remain with the franchise, sources said.
Even so, saying he's committed isn't nearly as convincing as showing it -- and that's something Harden has barely done lately. At times this season, Harden has played dispassionate and disappointing basketball -- perhaps injury-related in some instances, perhaps pouty in others.
Harden's private grousing about Nets coaches, teammates and the organization has made its way throughout the league, but those who've worked with him in the past understand that's how it goes in troubled times with him. Almost anyone who has spent considerable time with Harden in the NBA concedes that he can be quick to blame others -- and seldom himself.
Nets leadership is banking on the momentum of the season to change once Durant returns -- perhaps after the All-Star break -- and the load is lessened on Harden and Irving. Durant has significant sway with the organization, but he isn't telling Tsai and Marks what they ought to do at the trade deadline, sources said. Durant still wants Harden, sources said, but wants a committed Harden.
The Nets and Sixers privately believe they each have significant leverage when it comes to Harden. The Sixers would want to offer a spartan trade package beyond exiled star Ben Simmons because they believe the Nets risk losing him for nothing in the summer. The Nets would want a massive package beyond Simmons, because Philadelphia cannot acquire Harden without unloading significant talent and draft assets to create the salary-cap space for free agency. The Sixers have $133 million on the books for the 2022-23 season, and creating the room to sign him would take the unloading of several players and draft picks.
"Why would Brooklyn accept anything less now than the assets it would cost Philly to unload contracts and create the space this summer?" one NBA GM wondered to ESPN.
The Sixers' (32-21) strong play behind MVP candidate Joel Embiid seems to have bolstered their resolve to wait on Harden -- if not at the trade deadline, then in the offseason. Because even as Harden tells the Nets that he wants to stay long term, two people with significant history and relationships with him -- Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin and Morey -- believe Harden is interested in playing in Philadelphia, sources said.
These are high-stakes games of leverage between teams, and flinching first can obliterate an edge. Three days until the NBA's trade deadline, and the question remains: Does Philadelphia place another call and truly push the Nets to consider a surrender on James Harden?
When Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey reached out to Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks on Jan. 11, they started with the usual pleasantries of basketball executives still a month away from Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
Who do you like on our roster? Here's who I like on yours.
Eventually, Morey spoke up on the true intention of his call.
"What about James?"
"James who?" Marks responded.
The Nets do have two James -- Johnson and Harden.
"James Harden."
"No," Marks said flatly.
That exchange four weeks ago represents the single, direct communication between Morey and Marks this season, sources told ESPN. However brief the conversation, messages were delivered in each direction: The Sixers planned a pursuit of Harden, and the Nets had no intention of surrender.
With three days to go until the trade deadline, this is where the dialogue has remained. Yes, Morey could still pick up the phone and call Marks this week. The Sixers' ownership group have a strong relationship with Nets owner Joe Tsai, so communication can happen on that level, too.
For now, the lack of clarity centered on Harden's intentions represent the axis on which the circumstances could shift in the Nets' murky partnership with him. Harden can become a free agent after this season, and while he has continued to tell his Nets teammates, coaches and the front office that he is committed to winning in Brooklyn long term, his actions on and away from the court suggest some ambivalence.
Harden hasn't had an agent in several years, but he does have a business manager, Lorenzo McCloud. When Harden wanted out of Houston before the 2020 season, he commissioned agents Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields at Wasserman to work with the Houston Rockets and rival teams to facilitate a trade. They played a key role in getting Harden to the Nets, and then the working relationship ended in March of 2021, sources said.
Once again, sources told ESPN, Harden and his manager have been searching for an agent to partner and navigate the situation -- whether that's free agency, a sign-and-trade to leave the Nets after the season, staying on a new deal, or even a trade prior to Thursday's deadline.
When Harden considered signing an extension last summer, he handled it the way he did his past two deals in Houston: Discussing the pros and cons of different contract iterations with the National Basketball Players Association. That's why he didn't want to pay an agent's commission; he was a superstar player who needed no negotiation. He could pick his preferred max contract on a menu the way someone else might choose an HMO plan.
Ultimately, Harden did not sign an extension with the Nets, and at the end of September, he told ESPN's Malika Andrews he was looking forward to becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. Before then, he insisted he was focused on winning a championship with Brooklyn.
So far, the season hasn't lived up to those expectations. Kyrie Irving has been a part-time player due to his COVID-19 vaccination status in New York, Kevin Durant has been out for nearly a month with a knee injury, and Brooklyn has dropped to seventh in the Eastern Conference after an eight-game losing streak.
Harden has sat out the past two games with a hamstring injury, following a listless four-point performance in a loss to Sacramento last Wednesday.
Brooklyn is trusting that the injury is a legitimate hindrance to Harden playing now -- an MRI Saturday confirmed there was tightness -- the way it is trusting his word that he wants to remain with the franchise, sources said.
Even so, saying he's committed isn't nearly as convincing as showing it -- and that's something Harden has barely done lately. At times this season, Harden has played dispassionate and disappointing basketball -- perhaps injury-related in some instances, perhaps pouty in others.
Harden's private grousing about Nets coaches, teammates and the organization has made its way throughout the league, but those who've worked with him in the past understand that's how it goes in troubled times with him. Almost anyone who has spent considerable time with Harden in the NBA concedes that he can be quick to blame others -- and seldom himself.
Nets leadership is banking on the momentum of the season to change once Durant returns -- perhaps after the All-Star break -- and the load is lessened on Harden and Irving. Durant has significant sway with the organization, but he isn't telling Tsai and Marks what they ought to do at the trade deadline, sources said. Durant still wants Harden, sources said, but wants a committed Harden.
The Nets and Sixers privately believe they each have significant leverage when it comes to Harden. The Sixers would want to offer a spartan trade package beyond exiled star Ben Simmons because they believe the Nets risk losing him for nothing in the summer. The Nets would want a massive package beyond Simmons, because Philadelphia cannot acquire Harden without unloading significant talent and draft assets to create the salary-cap space for free agency. The Sixers have $133 million on the books for the 2022-23 season, and creating the room to sign him would take the unloading of several players and draft picks.
"Why would Brooklyn accept anything less now than the assets it would cost Philly to unload contracts and create the space this summer?" one NBA GM wondered to ESPN.
The Sixers' (32-21) strong play behind MVP candidate Joel Embiid seems to have bolstered their resolve to wait on Harden -- if not at the trade deadline, then in the offseason. Because even as Harden tells the Nets that he wants to stay long term, two people with significant history and relationships with him -- Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin and Morey -- believe Harden is interested in playing in Philadelphia, sources said.
These are high-stakes games of leverage between teams, and flinching first can obliterate an edge. Three days until the NBA's trade deadline, and the question remains: Does Philadelphia place another call and truly push the Nets to consider a surrender on James Harden?
Last edited:
- 73,482
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7/8 games decided by 11+ points
you wouldn't be saying this if you saw Herbert Jones go for 9-3-3 on the road against Houston
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Deadline Week Intel: Latest Buzz on Potential Ben Simmons-James Harden Trade
A lot has happened in Brooklyn this week, and yet nothing has happened.
As Nets head coach Steve Nash emphatically told reporters Sunday, Brooklyn leadership has shown zero inclination to move James Harden prior to Thursday's trade deadline—for Ben Simmons or any rival package.
Neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor any team have even contacted the Nets front office regarding a Harden blockbuster, sources told B/R. There have been no negotiations, no offers, not even a framework discussed.
Some Brooklyn figures have openly mentioned their interest in swapping Harden for Simmons, sources said. Harden's recent bout of hamstring tightness—which has kept him inactive for four of the Nets' last six games—has coincided with reports of his looming offseason plans and caught the attention of Brooklyn personnel and players alike. Nash added Sunday that an MRI showed nothing serious and classified Harden as "day-to-day."
Yet league sources confirmed the Nets have no plans to discuss Harden trade scenarios ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET buzzer. The team believes in its impressive title chances when its roster is at full strength.
Brooklyn officials maintain that Harden has not voiced any desire to play elsewhere despite word of the All-Star guard's openness to test free agency having circled around the league.
Any Simmons trade remains unlikely before the deadline. Philadelphia brass have long stood committed to waiting for a player of Harden or Bradley Beal's caliber to become available, and each dynamic scorer has at least signaled the possibility he may depart his current situation in the near future. Portland's salary-shedding trade with Los Angeles on Friday sparked hope among rival executives that Damian Lillard may once again consider a new home this summer as well.
No potential package from Atlanta or Sacramento, or any other team that has engaged Philadelphia since the offseason, has generated significant traction in trade conversations while the Sixers are holding out for someone on their wishlist.
As the deadline nears, Philadelphia brass are instead expected to focus on marginal improvements to their roster around MVP front-runner Joel Embiid. Philadelphia has clear needs for supplementary ball-handling and rebounding—two of the largest holes created by Simmons' season-long absence. Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe are the 76ers players most often mentioned as trade candidates by rival executives.
The prospect of Simmons' potential return will then take center stage after Thursday's theatrics come to a close. Sixers brass have consistently messaged an optimism that Simmons may be willing to rejoin Philadelphia if a deal doesn't materialize before the deadline.
Numerous figures affiliated with Simmons' representation insist he'll never dress for the franchise again, but there are people around Simmons who have recently pushed for the All-Star to retake the floor if he's not dealt, sources said.
While Tobias Harris' name emerged in trade conversations with the Kings and Hawks, the Sixers have engaged in little further dialogue about moving the veteran forward, sources said. But a Harris trade could still be on the horizon this summer as Philadelphia continues its pursuit of a new All-Star partner for Embiid.
There are several pathways in which the Sixers could acquire Harden or Beal, for example, in addition to the popular sign-and-trade concept discussed around the league pertaining to Harden. If Harden or Beal ultimately communicates a desire to join Philadelphia, both stand to gain a far greater salary by opting into the final years of their contracts and then being dealt to the 76ers.
But if the cleanest dynamic requires Philadelphia to create cap space to sign a star outright in free agency, multiple league sources have mentioned the possibility of a Sixers trade with the Thunder to move Harris into Oklahoma City's bounty of cap space.
Philadelphia already owes its top-six protected 2025 first-round pick to the Thunder. The Sixers could remove those protections and offer additional draft capital now that Oklahoma City’s $9.6 million trade exception from a previous Trevor Ariza trade expired and the Thunder have $33.7 million in cap room.
No significant conversations have yet occurred between the Sixers and Thunder, according to one source with knowledge of the situation, but the deal structure was mentioned to B/R by several salary-cap experts around the league. It remains to be seen how much financial wiggle room Oklahoma will have following the trade deadline.
A lot has happened in Brooklyn this week, and yet nothing has happened.
As Nets head coach Steve Nash emphatically told reporters Sunday, Brooklyn leadership has shown zero inclination to move James Harden prior to Thursday's trade deadline—for Ben Simmons or any rival package.
Neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor any team have even contacted the Nets front office regarding a Harden blockbuster, sources told B/R. There have been no negotiations, no offers, not even a framework discussed.
Some Brooklyn figures have openly mentioned their interest in swapping Harden for Simmons, sources said. Harden's recent bout of hamstring tightness—which has kept him inactive for four of the Nets' last six games—has coincided with reports of his looming offseason plans and caught the attention of Brooklyn personnel and players alike. Nash added Sunday that an MRI showed nothing serious and classified Harden as "day-to-day."
Yet league sources confirmed the Nets have no plans to discuss Harden trade scenarios ahead of Thursday's 3 p.m. ET buzzer. The team believes in its impressive title chances when its roster is at full strength.
Brooklyn officials maintain that Harden has not voiced any desire to play elsewhere despite word of the All-Star guard's openness to test free agency having circled around the league.
Any Simmons trade remains unlikely before the deadline. Philadelphia brass have long stood committed to waiting for a player of Harden or Bradley Beal's caliber to become available, and each dynamic scorer has at least signaled the possibility he may depart his current situation in the near future. Portland's salary-shedding trade with Los Angeles on Friday sparked hope among rival executives that Damian Lillard may once again consider a new home this summer as well.
No potential package from Atlanta or Sacramento, or any other team that has engaged Philadelphia since the offseason, has generated significant traction in trade conversations while the Sixers are holding out for someone on their wishlist.
As the deadline nears, Philadelphia brass are instead expected to focus on marginal improvements to their roster around MVP front-runner Joel Embiid. Philadelphia has clear needs for supplementary ball-handling and rebounding—two of the largest holes created by Simmons' season-long absence. Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe are the 76ers players most often mentioned as trade candidates by rival executives.
The prospect of Simmons' potential return will then take center stage after Thursday's theatrics come to a close. Sixers brass have consistently messaged an optimism that Simmons may be willing to rejoin Philadelphia if a deal doesn't materialize before the deadline.
Numerous figures affiliated with Simmons' representation insist he'll never dress for the franchise again, but there are people around Simmons who have recently pushed for the All-Star to retake the floor if he's not dealt, sources said.
While Tobias Harris' name emerged in trade conversations with the Kings and Hawks, the Sixers have engaged in little further dialogue about moving the veteran forward, sources said. But a Harris trade could still be on the horizon this summer as Philadelphia continues its pursuit of a new All-Star partner for Embiid.
There are several pathways in which the Sixers could acquire Harden or Beal, for example, in addition to the popular sign-and-trade concept discussed around the league pertaining to Harden. If Harden or Beal ultimately communicates a desire to join Philadelphia, both stand to gain a far greater salary by opting into the final years of their contracts and then being dealt to the 76ers.
But if the cleanest dynamic requires Philadelphia to create cap space to sign a star outright in free agency, multiple league sources have mentioned the possibility of a Sixers trade with the Thunder to move Harris into Oklahoma City's bounty of cap space.
Philadelphia already owes its top-six protected 2025 first-round pick to the Thunder. The Sixers could remove those protections and offer additional draft capital now that Oklahoma City’s $9.6 million trade exception from a previous Trevor Ariza trade expired and the Thunder have $33.7 million in cap room.
No significant conversations have yet occurred between the Sixers and Thunder, according to one source with knowledge of the situation, but the deal structure was mentioned to B/R by several salary-cap experts around the league. It remains to be seen how much financial wiggle room Oklahoma will have following the trade deadline.
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Someone is lying lol
antidope
Supporter
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This situation quickly reached the point of annoyance. All this lying is ridiculous
HOU$TON
formerly convertibleburt
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Jake Fischer got the juice so I’ll roll with whatever he saying
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For sure, he also used to be a writer for Philly
Someone is lying. Shams or Woj. We know shams got the #KlutchConnection
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It's like nobody even cares that the Brooklyn Nets put together a team with three top 75 players of all time & are currently in the play-in game.
Actually, it's the Nets so nobody caring checks out.
Actually, it's the Nets so nobody caring checks out.
antidope
Supporter
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I never contested that the guy puts up numbers though.
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#FireSale
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- May 30, 2006
Looking at the Clippers roster... What are they going to do with the rotation when PG and Kawhi are back?
Reggie, PG, Kawhi, Morris, Zubac, Powell, Mann, Kennard, Batum, Ibaka, Covington
That's a ton of guards for a minutes crunch given PG is probably gonna play 38-40. Lots of small ball inbound?
Reggie, PG, Kawhi, Morris, Zubac, Powell, Mann, Kennard, Batum, Ibaka, Covington
That's a ton of guards for a minutes crunch given PG is probably gonna play 38-40. Lots of small ball inbound?
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Trade
- 72,564
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- Mar 31, 2011
Feel like it only depends on what someone’s definition of conversation is. Like are we to believe that Sean Marks is just screening Morey’s calls? We know he’s only calling about one thing and is absolutely doing it nonstop.
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I know a lot of folks say "The contract isn't unmovable. He's been moved the past three seasons" but with his current play and the fact that he has another year left on the deal, this **** ain't moving word to John Wall.
In the three previous trades there was at least the idea/hope that Rust could add value because he still had the world duped (including NBA front offices). Now that he's been exposed AND is on the Lakers, no team is going to want to take on the burden of Rust at this cap number.
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I don't think Westbrook is getting traded this week, but it's definitely on the table during the summer.
The Lakers could take back long-term money, but I think they want to be a player in the 2023 free agency. It would have to be a three or four team trade because Westbrook makes so much money.
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Harden-for-Simmons Is Happening. Eventually. Probably. Or Not.
There’s no denial that can sink the buzz surrounding the potential Nets-Sixers blockbuster. It’s a trade that makes too much sense not to happen, and it’s one that all parties—Brooklyn, Philly, Klutch, etc.—should want.
www.theringer.com
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I remember the time when the teams thought that Andrew Bynum was still valuable.
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why the OKC fans so silent? I thought they love the Rust.
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Reggie, Mann, Batum all got one year left on they deals. Zubac and Covington will be free agents after this season. They'll probably try to make a trade.
Moheezy
formerly mizzoe33
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I'm going to stay off of the Sixers Reddit for the next little while, this back and forth and reports on nothing has been exhausting and will only be amplified in the next few days.
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