By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
In the wake of – perhaps – the biggest trade in recent years that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets, coach Steven Nash commented on the turn of events following Nets‘ loss to Washington Wizards Thursday.
Nash went on to reflect on the “what-ifs” of a strong Kevin Durant – Kyrie Irving – Harden trio, had the circumstances worked for the franchise.
“You’re up 2-0 against the NBA champs, and then do not have James in the first games and then Kyrie in the last games, James being on one leg, Jeff Green being out of the lineup, all sorts of things that hampered our opportunity to win,” Nash told reporters after the game. “To take them to overtime in Game 7, you definitely think there are some what-ifs, but that’s life. You can’t look back. You’ve got to look forward.”
Despite sending out a clear message that Brooklyn doesn’t intend to trade for Harden last week, Nash admitted that the move became evident with just a few hours remaining until the trade deadline – and at that point, he wasn’t surprised, as he commented.
“I think in the last hours, as the hours ticked by today, it seemed more apparent,” Nash mentioned. “But you’re never surprised. When I was asked those questions [about a possible trade], there was no conversation between the two teams.”
Besides Harden, the Sixers have also acquired Paul Millsap, in exchange for Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks.
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