'F**k It. James Isn't Bringing Sh*t,": Why Durant OK'd Harden Trade

"He knew it was over." That's how one Kevin Durant insider described the superstar's feelings about James Harden in the days leading up to Harden's trade to Philadelphia. 

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report writes that another Nets' insider said that after watching Harden simply go through the motions during the Nets' building losing streak, "Kevin was like: 'F--k it. James isn't bringing s--t."

It's at that point that Durant gave his blessing to Nets brass to make the trade, and send Harden to the 76ers in return for holdout Ben Simmons. "I don't think that would have happened without Kevin making that decision," added the insider. 

Fischer's report says the KD was "skeptical" of the actual severity of Harden's hamstring injury that had him sit out a few games leading up to the trade deadline. 

That, plus Harden's "freelancing behavior", both on and off the court, "created an untenable situation". Durant called up Nets' GM Sean Marks the morning of the trade deadline and told him to pull the trigger. 

"Kevin's the one that pulled the trigger with this," another source with knowledge of the situation told Fischer. "Kevin's the one that said, 'Do this deal.'"

And the rest, as they say, is history. Or the future, in this case, as neither Simmons nor Harden will be suiting up for their new teams until after the All-Star break.

Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports, Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports