The Brooklyn Nets dreams of winning a championship featuring a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden are officially dead.
With less than two hours to go before the NBA season’s trade deadline, Brooklyn agreed to move Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks.
Brooklyn acquired Harden from the Houston Rockets last year in exchange for three first-round picks, four first-round swaps, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince, and Rodions Kurucs. Despite forming a Big 3 of Durant, Irving, and Harden, the Nets were knocked out of the NBA Playoffs in the second round, losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks.
This season, Irving has been used as a part-time player because his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19 bars him from entering Brooklyn’s home arena. Durant is currently injured and Harden grew increasingly disgruntled as the lone superstar.
The Nets chose to trade Harden now, rather than lose him without a return in free agency at the end of the season.
The Guy Report 