PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Despite the rumors, Daryl Morey says they are not looking to trade Ben Simmons.
The Sixers president of basketball operations told The Athletic and the Stadium sports network that Simmons is “an important part of our future.”
Multiple reports had indicated a trade for Rockets superstar James Harden — who apparently wants out of Houston and would be happy joining the Sixers.
According to ESPN, the Rockets are chatting more and more with other teams, and the network reported the Sixers indicated they’re willing to deal Simmons in a package for Harden.
The 76ers have been attached to these rumors for weeks. New Sixer Danny Green told Colin Cowherd’s “The Herd” radio show earlier this week that they’re just focused on right now and what they can control.
“Everything else outside of that, we can’t control. If it happens, so be it. If it doesn’t, we still gotta focus on us,” said Green. “We’ll figure it out when that time comes and adjust and adapt to it. And — either way — we’re gonna be us. We’re gonna have fun. We’re gonna compete for a title.”
Green said they haven’t discussed the rumors at practice.
“At this point, all that other stuff is just background noise and a distraction if we let it be a distraction of us,” he added.