Report: 76ers 'expected to pursue' James Harden

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Well, it's NFL Trade Deadline day, but the biggest Philadelphia sports trade rumors comes in the NBA, as The Athletic's Shams Charania has linked James Harden to the Sixers.

"I'm told Philadelphia is expected to be interested in, and pursue, James Harden the Rockets star who Daryl Morey has a history with, but as will other teams also express interest," Charania said in a video released on Twitter on Tuesday. "As of right now, it is an emphatic no from the Rockets side, it's really a non-starter for that organization.

"Daryl Morey has a history of being active on the trade market pursuing the different opportunities that may exist out there and I wouldn't expect it to be any different, now that he's in Philadelphia."

Obviously speculation surrounding Harden coming to Philly took off when the organization hired Morey to be the new president of basketball operations.

It was also reported in September that the Sixers could be eyeing Mike D'Antoni as their coach, with hopes of luring James Harden to Philadelphia. Of course, the Sixers hired Doc Rivers to be their new head coach, but you can't help but think Harden is still in their plans.

When asked about trading at least one of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and/or Al Horford during his introductory press conference on Monday, here is what Morey told 94WIP's Howard Eskin.

"My goal is to win a championship, so whatever gets us there is what we'll do," Morey said on Monday. "But I would say to have two star-plus players [in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons] in 24 and 26 years old, that is why I couldn't get Doc Rivers to interview in Houston because he saw this roster and said it was amazing."

Prying Harden away from Houston is going to be extremely difficult, as reported by Shams, but the most logical way of doing so would likely be sending a package surrounding Ben Simmons.

As a huge Simmons fans, parting with him and losing out on his future upside would be a gut punch, on one hand. But on the other hand, the idea of pairing Harden with Embiid may catapult the Sixers to championship contender immediately and be the best move for the organization in the short-term.

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