With the trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, much of the NBA world is wondering what Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and the team will do.
Morey said last month in an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic's Mike Missanelli that a Ben Simmons trade before the deadline was "less likely than likely." Simmons hasn't played for the 2021-22 Sixers after requesting a trade during the offseason, holding out of training camp, and telling the team he wasn't mentally ready to play.
We’ll see how everything unfolds and keep track of significant news and reports here.
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Thursday, Feb. 10
Inquirer's Keith Pompey: Thybulle is holding deal up
It seems, just after 1 p.m., that a Harden-Simmons deal is particularly close. The main thing in the way of a swap? Matisse Thybulle, according to a report from Keith Pompey:
The Athletic's Sam Amick: Simmons camp 'optimistic'
NBA insider Sam Amick reported just after 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon that "there’s a whole lot of optimism coming from the Simmons camp" about the potential of a deal getting done before the 3 p.m. deadline.
NBA
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski: Harden 'hopeful' for Sixers trade
An attention-grabbing report here on the morning of the deadline. Wojnarowski reported Harden wants a pre-deadline trade to Philadelphia, but that he's "resisted making that formal request out of fear of the public backlash that would come with asking out of a second franchise in consecutive seasons."
Wojnarowski reported the Nets and Sixers had "yet to become engaged in serious dialogue on a deal" but were expected to communicate Thursday.
Wednesday, Feb. 9
Wojnarowski: "No negotiation going on" between Sixers and Nets
Wojnarowski's plugged-in sense of the dynamics with the Nets and Sixers is certainly different than that of ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who earlier said the teams were "absolutely engaged in trade discussions."
"Right now there's no negotiation going on between Philadelphia and Brooklyn," Wojnarowski told Mike Greenberg. The trade deadline is tomorrow at 3, it can change, but the idea that they've been going back and forth that's been surmised by some, I don't believe that to be accurate.
"Again, deadlines create action often, and people hold out and there's always a lot of posturing. I think Brooklyn still believes right now its best path is to get Kevin Durant back, and get James Harden healthy and Kyrie Irving on the court. And get those three together again probably after the All-Star break, when they're hopeful Durant could be back. It's not a perfect or ideal scenario right now with James Harden, there's no question about that.
"I think, barring a flurry of negotiations and activity that hasn't happened yet, right now James Harden is likely to be with the Nets. Again, it's always fluid, but I don't sense an appetite from Brooklyn to do a deal that's just simply Ben Simmons for James Harden. If Philadelphia decided to get really aggressive with an offer or offers ... again it can change, of course, but I don't believe there's any negotiations going on right now."
Simmons-Harden negotiations reportedly in a "deal zone"
Windhorst said Wednesday morning that it's "trending in that direction" of a Simmons-Harden trade happening before the deadline.
Sixers, Nets reportedly discussed Harden trade Tuesday
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey reported "the Nets and Sixers engaged in trade discussions Tuesday and bickered over pieces to add to a potential deal."
Tuesday, Feb. 8
Doc Rivers: Sixers "need a point guard"
Rivers, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris shared some of their thoughts ahead of the trade deadline following the Sixers' loss Tuesday night to the Suns in Philadelphia. Rivers was direct in saying the Sixers "have to get another guard."
Kings trade Tyrese Haliburton to Pacers (Wojnarowski reports)
Wojnarowski reports this deal will send Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday. The Kings had long been in the mix for Simmons but they apparently have gone a different direction with a trade centered around Sabonis, a two-time All-Star big man who's averaged 19.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists over the last two and a half seasons.
Blazers trade CJ McCollum to Pelicans (Wojnarowski reports)
This reported deal involves two products of Pennsylvania colleges in Lehigh's CJ McCollum and Villanova's Josh Hart. For the Sixers (and the league at large), it begs the questions of what Portland's plan is with Damian Lillard. Wojnarowski later reported the team plans to "fully reshape" its roster around Lillard and "pursue high-end talent now, not retreat."
Sixers reportedly talking to teams about a Tobias Harris trade
Buzz has picked up quickly around the Sixers maybe trying to trade Harris before the deadline. Whether it's a true pursuit from Daryl Morey or just a negotiating tactic is unclear right now, but Harris has underwhelmed this season and he's due $76 million over the next two seasons - a large sum of money that Morey would much rather spend on Harden.
One possible destination for Harris if he's moved before the deadline seems to be the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Monday, Feb. 7
Embiid talks Simmons stance, trade rumors
In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic's Mike Missanelli, Embiid said of the Sixers, "We’ve always believed in ourselves. We’ve always believed that we were good enough, and I still believe that we are good enough. But it’s going to take all of us. We’re all going to have to be perfect if we want to be able to win and contend for the championship. But like I said — and I’ve said it a lot of times — I love my teammates and I do believe in all of them. And I think we have a chance.”
Embiid also discussed his stance on Simmons, the impending trade deadline and more in the interview.
Nets leadership has shown "zero inclination to move Harden" (Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer)
From Fischer's report: “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."
Fischer reports Sixers brass is instead "expected to focus on marginal improvements" around Embiid and names Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe as Sixers players "most often mentioned as trade candidates by rival executives."
So, why the recent buzz from other reporters about a Harden-Simmons trade being possible before Thursday afternoon?
Fischer reports "some Brooklyn figures have openly mentioned their interest in swapping Harden for Simmons," but he writes "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."
Sunday, Feb. 6
Cavs add Caris LeVert (Wojnarowski reports)
The Cavs will hope to get valuable scoring pop from LeVert alongside first-time All-Star Darius Garland. Rubio suffered an ACL tear in late December and will be a free agent at season’s end. Cleveland and the Sixers have been close to each other lately in the tight Eastern Conference standings.
Nash responds to Harden trade rumors
Harden was out with left hamstring tightness for the Nets’ loss to the Nuggets on Sunday, Brooklyn’s eighth straight defeat.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Friday that the Nets were “believed to be open to discussing” a pre-deadline Harden trade with the Sixers. Before Sunday's game, Nets head coach Steve Nash spoke about his communication with Harden.
“I’ve talked to James,” Nash told reporters. “He wants to be here. He wants to be here long term, as well. I don’t think anything’s changed other than noise from the outside. James wants to be here, we’re building with James and we think we have the best chance to win with James. I don’t think anything’s change on the inside, in our locker room, in our communication. It’s just all the noise from the outside.”
Nash was asked whether it’s true that Brooklyn “is not trading James Harden.”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Nash said.
Friday, Feb. 4
Blazers trade Norman Powell, Robert Covington to Clippers
Not an earth-shattering trade here, but one that’s notable for the Sixers. In exchange for Powell and Covington, a product of the Sixers’ Process, the Clippers sent Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow and the Pistons’ 2025 second-round pick to Portland.
Per The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver, Blazers interim general manager Joe Cronin said the trade was made for “cap flexibility. The opportunity to clean our books up a little and just create more opportunities for this coming week and beyond, through the draft and free agency."
It’s worth keeping tabs on the 21-33 Blazers and Damian Lillard, who had abdominal surgery last month and has been linked with the Sixers quite a bit.
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