The Brooklyn Nets shocked the NBA world before the deadline by trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for a haul of talent headlined by Ben Simmons.
The Big 3 experiment in Brooklyn ended before it could really get started and now Harden is chasing a title in Philly.
Nets GM Sean Marks spoke with the media Friday and offered some insight into the deal.
One interesting point he made was on who was involved in the trade discussions.
Sean Marks says Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were not primary decision-makers behind the trade: "These discussions were really had between James, myself, and Joe Tsai."
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) February 11, 2022
Marks made it clear that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant were not the ones pushing for a trade.
Instead, it was only between the player, GM, and owner Joe Tsai.
That adds some clarity to the situation and proves all sides knew it was just a bad fit.
A New Star In Town
All eyes are now on Simmons as he tries to resurrect his reputation in Brooklyn.
The young star has sat out the entire season to this point, but Marks indicated he is ready to go now that he is off the 76ers.
Sean Marks says Ben Simmons was in Brooklyn today to get his physical. He said Simmons is ecstatic about being in Brooklyn, and said the team is, too. Said the Nets are here to support him, and the rest of their players, however they can.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 11, 2022
The Nets also landed Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in the deal, meaning they add three dynamic pieces to the lineup and remove one that no longer wanted to be there anymore.
While losing Harden was a shock, it may be a net positive for the team moving forward.
The NBA is a league where stars have more power to force their way out of certain situations whenever they want.
The Nets actually listening to Harden may help the team in the long run as they keep their focus on coming together in order to compete for a championship.
NEXT: NBA Insider Offers A Positive Ben Simmons Update
