PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- As of Tuesday afternoon, the Philadelphia 76ers are attached to the latest rumbling involving Houston Rockets superstar James Harden.
It’s no secret that Harden apparently wants to play for another team. That’s what multiple reports have indicated recently. He finally reported to Houston to go through COVID-19 protocols Tuesday.
However, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski — Harden informed the Rockets he would be “open” to getting traded to the 76ers or maybe other contenders.
Harden was supposedly focused on getting dealt to the Brooklyn Nets — who feature fellow stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving — but that doesn’t appear to be gaining any steam.
ESPN says the Sixers haven’t had any “substantive” conversations with the Rockets about Harden.
Nonetheless, Twitter started humming when this report popped up Tuesday afternoon. And it started circulating before Doc Rivers’ post-practice press conference.
During that press conference, a reporter asked Rivers, speaking in general context, how the new Sixers' head coach handles all the circulating trade rumors with his players.
Rivers, shaking his head, said, “You’re not hearing them from us, so as long as you don’t hear them for us, you should be very comfortable. We like our team, man. I’ll tell you — that team I just watched out there (at practice) is pretty special."
It's common sense that any team to trade for Harden would need to give up a substantial package to the Rockets. Also, if Harden is dealt, whichever team lands him should probably make sure that the 31-year-old player is committed to them for the long term.
Harden’s contract has a player option after the 2021-22 season, according to Spotrac.
Sixers President Daryl Morey, who brought Harden to Houston when he was the Rockets General Manager, has emphasized that he wants to keep Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid together on the Sixers.