Nash says Nets not trading Harden before trade deadline

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James Harden is staying put with the Brooklyn Nets.

Coach Steve Nash gave a direct answer when asked before the team's game at Denver on Sunday if the team was definitely not trading the former MVP before Thursday's deadline.

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"Yes, that’s correct," Nash said. "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."

Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) yells to forward James Johnson (16) during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/José Luis Villegas)

Harden has missed two games with a left hamstring injury and been the subject of trade rumors, including a possible deal to send him to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons. Nash said Harden’s hamstring is tightness, not a strain, and he has lost strength in the ligament.

"For us, we just don’t want to take any chances," Nash said. "We know last year we lost him for an extended period and we want to be conservative and make sure he resumes full strength so there isn’t an extended absence."

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Harden has missed 10 games in his first full season with Brooklyn.

The Nets entered Sunday’s game having lost seven in a row, including a blowout loss at Utah on Friday night.