Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Shams Charania is reporting — with multiple caveats — that the Nets are now open to trading James Harden to the 76ers for a package centered on Ben Simmons, Philly’s prodigal point guard, before the deadline next Thursday.
With the NBA trade deadline just days away on Feb. 10, the 76ers are expected to pursue Harden in the coming days and the Nets are believed to be open to discussing a deal, sources with knowledge of the situation tell The Athletic. There’s expectation that both the 76ers and Nets will engage in dialogue on a deal around Simmons for Harden, multiple sources say, with Philadelphia holding a chest of role players in Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle that could sweeten a potential package.