With James Harden-Ben Simmons swap, Nets make a move Lakers didn't

Chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt has the details on 'America Reports.'

In swapping James Harden for Ben Simmons, the Brooklyn Nets decided they needed to act now as they slide down the standings.

The Los Angeles Lakers didn't do the same.

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A number of deals were made Thursday before the NBA's trade deadline, topped by the blockbuster between the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. Just 13 months after acquiring Harden, Brooklyn sent him to a division rival.

Kristaps Porzingis was also on the move, going from Dallas to a Washington team that was busy before the trade deadline. Most of the deals were still pending NBA approval and confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity by people with knowledge of the details.

In Brooklyn, Harden seemed to have soured on the situation with Kevin Durant hurt and Kyrie Irving only playing in home games because he won't get vaccinated against the coronavirus. The trade gives the Nets a chance to turn things around.

"I feel like we’ve got versatile players so we’ll have to figure it out and figure out what works for us," Durant said during an interview on TNT. "But I’m just happy that we got guys that want to be a part of this."

The Nets have lost nine straight games, tumbling to eighth place in the tightly contested Eastern Conference.

That's one spot ahead of where the struggling Lakers are in the West.

FILE - Brooklyn Nets' James Harden (13) tries to drive past Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 76ers have traded Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden as part of a multiplayer deal. The trade was confirmed by