NBA trade odds: Nets' James Harden to 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry reported possibility

The NBA's Trade Deadline is Thursday afternoon and the story seems to change by the hour on whether the Brooklyn Nets will break up their Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden by shipping Harden out because he's unhappy and almost surely will decline his player option this offseason – even though it's worth more than $47 million – to become a free agent. Nets coach Steve Nash said Sunday they aren't trading Harden, but it's also not Nash's decision. SportsLine offers odds on a potential deal.

"I've talked to James, he wants to be here and he wants to be here long term as well," Nash told reporters. "We're building with James and we think we have the best chance to win with James. So I don't think anything's changed on the inside in our locker room, in our communication. It's just all the noise from the outside."

Bill Simmons, who is pretty darn plugged-in on all things NBA, reported on his podcast that the Nets are open to a deal sending Harden to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons and Seth Curry and perhaps a draft pick. Simmons hasn't played this season and doesn't plan to ever suit up for the Sixers again -- Gus Williams is the last player to hold out for an entire season, which he did during the prime of his career over a contract dispute with the Sonics in 1980-81. Simmons would have no problem deferring to Durant/Irving as he's scared to shoot anyways.

This would be a potential win-win deal for both teams as Simmons would hugely upgrade Brooklyn's defense and Curry is a terrific three-point shooter and insurance fort the Nets in case Joe Harris doesn't make it back from injury this season. The Sixers get their second star to pair with MVP favorite Joel Embiid.

There's talk Harden might sign with Philadelphia this summer regardless, although the Sixers would have to work some salary-cap magic. Essentially, Harden can make about $70 million more by re-signing a five-year deal with Brooklyn this offseason than signing with another team.

Harden has looked a little disinterested at times of late, scoring just four points last Wednesday in a loss to the Kings. He has sat out the past two games with a hamstring injury. Below, the SportsLine Projection Model forecasts a simple Simmons-Harden trade.

The Nets enter Tuesday's home game with Boston – which means Irving can't play and Durant is still out injured -- on an eight-game losing streak but still as +350 favorites at Caesars Sportsbook to win the NBA title. 

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will the Nets deal James Harden by the Trade Deadline?

• No -500
• Yes +350

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