The James Harden-Philadelphia 76ers rumors continue to heat up. The latest rumor? The Rockets are seeking three first-round picks and Ben Simmons for the one of the game's all-time great scorers.
The rumor comes from Yaron Weitzman, who is the author of Tanking to the Top—which is of course about Sam Hinkie and the Sixers. Weitzman, who used to cover the NBA for Bleacher Report, is not currently an NBA reporter technically, but certainly does have his sources within the organization.
On Friday, NY Times NBA reporter Marc Stein reported that the Philadelphia 76ers are the "most likely destination" for a trade involving James Harden. However, Stein—as well as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski—continue to report that the Sixers are unwilling to trade Simmons.
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Harden, 31, is an eight-time all-star, six-time All-NBA first teamer, and 2018 Most Valuable Player. Harden is set to make over $40 million in each of the next two seasons before a 2022-23 player option for $47.3 million kicks in.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey—who of course acquired Harden in a blockbuster trade while he was running the Houston Rockets' front office—has talked this offseason about his desire to keep both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
On November 24th, Morey told 94WIP's Jon Marks & Ike Reese that he believes the Sixers are title contenders.
"Yeah, I do think this is a team that can contend," Morey said. "I like that, teams are—feels like we're coming from the underdog part of it. You don't have to go back about one year—towards the end of the season the Sixers were forecasted to be right there with Milwaukee in the East and everyone obviously did not play quite as well as that. I prefer to be in this spot, where everyone thinks we're like the sixth best team in the East and we'll shock people. So, I'm excited for that."
From a Houston standpoint, the Rockets just traded Russell Westbrook for John Wall to pair with Harden. However, Woj reports Harden is still seeking a trade despite Wall's arrival. Woj previously reported, "The Rockets have been adamant that they will not be rushed into trading Harden." However, if Harden is unhappy in Houston—and it appears he is—they will not find a better asset in return than a 24-year-old two-time all-star and former rookie of the year, in Simmons.
For Morey, Elton Brand, Doc Rivers and the Sixers the question is a risk-reward one. Give up one of the league's best long term assets in Simmons to create arguably the best guard-big man duo in the NBA with Harden and Joel Embiid and try to win a championship immediately? Sacrifice future upside for the immediate pursuit of a title? It's certainly a tough one that is surely keeping the Sixers' brass up at night.