Nash: Nets won't trade Harden before deadline

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash is ruling out the possibility of the franchise trading away James Harden.

When asked if the Nets would deal the nine-time All-Star by Thursday's trade deadline, Nash kept his response clear and concise.

"No," he said, courtesy of Alex Schiffer of The Athletic.

Nash added that Harden told him in previous discussions that he wants to stay in Brooklyn and win a championship alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

"This has been a constant thing since the summer," Nash said, per SNY. "He's continually reiterated that he wants to be here. And we've continually said that we want him here and that that's our best chance to win. Nothing's changed from the communication we've had.

"We just want to be conservative with him, so we don't lose him for big stretches. We think when he's healthy, and Kevin's healthy, and Kyrie plays, our team's a totally different team, and we're excited by it."

Harden's future with the Nets has been cast into doubt due to reported interest from the Philadelphia 76ers and his looming free agency after refusing to sign an extension last summer.

With Brooklyn currently amid a seven-game losing streak, the Nets were reportedly open to a trade centered around Harden and the 76ers' Ben Simmons before the Feb. 10 deadline. A day later, another report suggested Harden was frustrated with his role in the team. Durant, though, reportedly wants to keep the three-time scoring champ alongside him in Brooklyn.

Harden, who will miss his second straight game Sunday due to hamstring tightness, is averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 assists, eight rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 44 games this season. The Nets enter Sunday sitting sixth in the East with a 29-23 record.

After teaming up for just eight regular-season contests in 2020-21, Brooklyn's star trio of Harden, Durant, and Irving have made just two appearances together this campaign.