NBA Rumors: James Harden, Ben Simmons Trade 'Absolutely' Could Happen at Deadline

Just two days before the NBA trade deadline, a potential deal involving James Harden and Ben Simmons is reportedly still in play. 

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, there is "absolutely a chance" the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers strike a deal that involves the two All-Star point guards. 

Nets head coach Steve Nash was asked directly before Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets if it was definite that Harden wouldn't be traded. 

"Yes, that’s correct," Nash told reporters. "I’ve talked to James, he wants to be here. He wants to be here long term as well, so I don’t think anything’s changed other than noise from the outside. James wants to be here, we’re building with James and we think we have the best chance to win with James."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported Monday that Nets general manager Sean Marks flatly rejected an inquiry from Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey about Harden during a Jan. 11 phone call. 

According to Wojnarowski and Shelburne, that call was the only "single, direct communication between Morey and Marks" so far this season. 

Per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Simmons is unlikely to be moved by the 76ers prior to the trade deadline. 

Wojnarowski said Monday on ESPN's Get Up that Philadelphia "will be engaged" in talks about Simmons this week, but the team is "no closer to a trade" involving the three-time All-Star. 

Harden has missed four of the past six games because of hand and hamstring injuries. Kyrie Irving is still a part-time player because he can't play in home games due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Nash told reporters Sunday there is no specific timetable for Kevin Durant's return from a sprained MCL. 

The Nets are in free fall with eight straight losses heading into Tuesday's game against the Boston Celtics. They are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 29-24 record.

Harden is averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game in 44 starts this season. The 32-year-old is shooting just 41.4 percent from the field, his worst in a season since he was a rookie in 2009-10 (40.3). 

Simmons has yet to appear in a game this season amid a holdout as he waits for a trade. He has averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in 275 career starts for the Sixers. 

Philadelphia is fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-21 record. 

The NBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday.