NBA Rumors: Doc Rivers Not Distracted By Potential Coming Of James Harden To Philly

KEY POINTS

Doc Rivers is not bothered by James Harden links to Sixers
Rivers seems to be content with the Simmons-Embiid tandem
Harden may end up starting the season with the Houston Rockets

James Harden has finally arrived in Houston, but the next steps are unlikely to be smooth.

The 2018 NBA MVP has put himself in a spot with most believe that he is serious about getting traded. One team that has been dragged in the crossfire is the Philadelphia 76ers.

With the Brooklyn Nets showing no signs of interest in Harden, unnamed sources claim that the eight-time All-Star is open to joining the Philadelphia 76ers or any NBA contender, ESPN reported.

It was Kevin Durant who practically quashed claims that the Nets would be Harden’s next stop. He refuted rumors that he and Harden had any discussion about potentially coming to Brooklyn.

The two-time NBA champion stressed that all of it was made up but affirmed Harden's desire to pack his things and leave Houston.

With the Nets out, the Sixers are now in the spotlight. Head coach Doc Rivers was asked about the highly-publicized trade rumors and responded to it as vaguely as he could during a media session in another report from ESPN.

“You’re not hearing them from us. So as long as you’re not hearing them from us, you should be very comfortable,” Rivers stated.

Harden could provide Philly with a big boost, a scoring machine that the club direly needs. However, it would take much to get the deal done. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are the likely assets that Houston would want.

However, the problem is that Philly may not be that inclined to agree to part with both or either player. The two have been struggling, but things could change this coming season.

With Rivers on board, improvements on both players are expected. Any deal for Simmons or Embiid could be made but probably after the 2020-21 season.

The Golden State Warriors once inquired about Harden's availability but saw that he may not be a fit for the team’s culture. Also, he is not seen as a long-term fix for the Dubs.

Philly remains a potential destination, but the exchange will be tricky. The worst-case scenario is seeing Harden stay in Houston. However, it raises more questions on how the franchise will perform in the coming NBA season.