After acquiring James Harden in a Ben Simmons swap last season, the Philadelphia 76 ers have joined the pursuit of the 12- time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, according to SNY’ s Ian B…
A new team has joined the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, and it’s the same team that pried away the Nets’ last superstar.
After acquiring James Harden in a Ben Simmons swap last season, the Philadelphia 76ers have joined the pursuit of the 12-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP, according to SNY’s Ian Begley, who reported there are “high-ranking members of the Sixers who’ve felt strongly about engaging with Brooklyn on a Durant trade.”
The SNY report, however, noted the Boston Celtics as Durant’s current preferred trade destination and added an additional tidbit: Durant wants to play with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart if he’s moved to Boston. The Nets reportedly rejected Boston’s trade offer of All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, reserve guard Derrick White and a first-round pick, then countered, asking the Celtics to include Smart, an additional rotation player and additional draft compensation.
Philadelphia’s interest in a Durant deal makes sense given Tobias Harris’ large salary and lack of star-level production. Harris averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season — about on par with his career averages — but never eclipsed 14 points in any of the Sixers’ final four playoff games in their second-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat.
It’s unclear whether or not the Nets would want Harris, 30, in any Durant deal, and assuming MVP runner-up Joel Embiid is untouchable, budding young guard Tyrese Maxey would be the highlight of any deal done with Philadelphia.
