The Athletic’s Sam Amick is clear that he doesn’t know which way the James Harden for Ben Simmons discussion — if there are discussions — will go, but suggests that whatever leverage the Nets now have could be dissipated if Harden decides to opt out of his contract this summer and the Nets would be left without Harden or the players, picks and swaps they gave up 13 months ago to get No. 13.
If, Amick writes, Sean Marks — and Steve Nash — are wrong about Harden’s commitment, it could be a “miscalculation of epic proportions.” Here’s his reasoning.