Harden headed to 76ers in blockbuster
Brooklyn Nets star James Harden will be joining AllStar center Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two firstround draft picks in a deal made official Thursday night.
Harden had reportedly been seeking a trade, and 76ers executive Daryl Morey, who brought the high-scoring guard to Houston when he was a rising star, was able to land the deal. Philadelphia will also acquire Paul Millsap.
The Nets, who along with the Lakers, were a preseason favorite to win the NBA title with Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way. Irving, though, balked at getting vaccinated and can play only road games outside of New York, where athletes must be vaccinated to play indoors.
Brooklyn (29-26) has lost 10 games in a row and is 2-11 since Durant was sidelined by a sprained left knee. The Nets are eighth in the Eastern Conference standings after losing to Washington on Thursday.
The Nets acquired Harden, the NBA’s three-time scoring champion, in a trade with Houston in January 2021 to join Durant and Irving as a new Big Three. Brooklyn’s playoff run never materialized despite having three of the highest-paid players in the league, two of whom had won titles.
The 76ers (32-22) have played all season without Simmons, who requested a trade in the offseason before sitting out training camp while citing mental health issues. They are fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, 21⁄2 games out of first.
Embiid leads the league by averaging 29.4 points and has scored at least 25 points in 30 consecutive games.
Philadelphia made the trade while keeping coveted young role players in guard Tyrese Maxey and forward Matisse Thybulle.
— Broderick Turner
Porzingis dealt to Wizards
The Dallas Mavericks broke up their star duo by trading 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for forward Davis Bertans and guard Spencer Dinwiddie.
Washington will also receive a protected 2022 second-round draft pick in the deal.
Porzingis, the fourth overall draft pick in 2015 out of Latvia, was acquired by the Mavericks from the New York Knicks in a January 2019 trade to play alongside dynamic point guard Luka Doncic.
Porzingis is averaging 19.2 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting a career-low 28.3% from three-point range.
In other major trades around the NBA:
The Charlotte Hornets acquired Wizards forward Montrezl Harrell for center Vernon Carey Jr. and guard Ish Smith.
The Phoenix Suns will acquire forward Torrey Craig from the Indiana Pacers for forward Jalen Smith and a second-round draft pick to be determined.
The Boston Celtics acquired San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White for guard Romeo Langford, wing Josh Richardson and a protected 2022 second-round draft choice. Boston also sent point guard Dennis Schroder and big men Enes Kanter Freedom and Bruno Fernando to the Rockets for Daniel Theis.
In another move, Boston traded guard PJ Dozier and forward Bol Bol, along with a future second-round pick and cash, to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a protected 2023 second-round pick.