The Brooklyn Nets swung two massive trades involving James Harden in back-to-back seasons. After first acquiring him from the Houston Rockets, general manager Sean Marks then traded him away to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden lasted only 80 games with the Nets. After being disappointed with the Nets' direction, Harden felt the desire to team up with Joel Embiid and play for his old friend Daryl Morey. It took lots of trade negotiations but ultimately, Harden got his wish the Nets got, among other things, Ben Simmons in return.

Marks said that dealing with players is a two-way street. He added that trying to change a player's mind about where they want to play is not a worthwhile endeavor. Marks admitted plainly that the era of player movement is alive and well.

The Harden trade hurt the Nets during the 2021-22 season, as they needed more offensive support. Without Simmons, they lacked the talent to win even a single playoff game in the first round. Harden may not have been good enough to keep them in the playoffs for much longer but he would have at least been able to try.

However, the Nets may end up getting the better end of the deal. Harden looks like a shell of himself. Simmons returning at full strength would make this obvious, though he still has plenty of rehab time ahead of him. The Nets adding Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and draft picks made the trade at least somewhat beneficial for them. Simmons, though, remains the key factor.