NBA trade deadline 2022 - Deals for Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook and others we want to see
The NBA trade deadline is one day away (3 p.m. ET Thursday), and we've already seen a few major moves, such as the Sacramento Kings landing two-time All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis and the New Orleans Pelicans acquiring guard CJ McCollum.
Previously, the LA Clippers traded for Portland Trail Blazers forwards Robert Covington and Norman Powell; the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert; and the Boston Celtics dealt for Denver Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier and center Bol Bol.
But where is the Ben Simmons trade that gives Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers some help in their title pursuit? The Russell Westbrook move that gives the struggling star a fresh start? The megadeal that shakes up the 2022 playoff chase?
Our NBA Insiders have been busy in ESPN's Trade Machine, crafting moves to send a disgruntled Sixer to a new home, a former MVP to a new coast and a young Piston to one of the Eastern Conference's most surprising contenders.
Let's make some deals.
Brooklyn Nets receive: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, 2022 first-round pick
Philadelphia 76ers receive: James Harden
Let's allow these teams and their fan bases to move on from this never-ending saga.
Whether this trade will happen remains to be seen. But, in this world, Philadelphia gets the chance to reunite Harden with president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, and pair him with Joel Embiid, who is arguably playing better than he ever has in his NBA career, while finally bringing the Simmons saga in Philadelphia to a close.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, gets back one of the league's most versatile defensive players in Simmons — someone who will create open shots for Kyrie Irving (when he's on the court) and Kevin Durant, and is a perfect fit as a