NBA Rumors: Sixers Fishing For James Harden In Summer Blockbuster Swap

KEY POINTS

The 76ers are opting to hold on to Ben Simmons ahead of the trade deadline
James Harden is their ideal target in a Simmons trade deal in the offseason
Reconciliation between Simmons and the Sixers are a near impossibility at this point

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a bit of a bind thanks to the Ben Simmons situation, but it has not kept them from dreaming of getting a superstar in exchange for him in the summer.

In a joint report by Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Sixers are planning to keep Simmons past the February 10 NBA trade deadline in the hopes of swinging for a bigger offer, one that includes James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden being linked to a move to Philadelphia has long been rumored, with Sixers president Daryl Morey being willing to offer him to the Houston Rockets according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Fans have yet to see Simmons this season after the superstar’s dismal showing in the 2021 NBA playoffs due to mental health concerns, which has forced the Sixers to continue fining him for repeatedly no-showing.

The 25-year-old from Australia has asked for a trade during the offseason, but no team is interested in acquiring him thanks to perceived attitude problems and a seeming unwillingness to improve on his game.

Many believed that Simmons would be the second coming of Los Angeles Lakers star and generational talent LeBron James if only he could develop a reliable jump shot in order to help space the floor for his teammates.

It is not as if Simmons is not willing to shoot jump shots as he has been caught on video swishing home jumpers in practice sessions, which led to the discussion of him having in-game “yips”.

In an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli Show, Morey has previously revealed his policy regarding Simmons–in that it must be a “win-win” trade.

Whatever the case may be, the Sixers are very much willing to move on from Simmons as soon as possible as long as the deal is right.

Since his absence from the team, Tyrese Maxey has taken over his spot on the depth chart and is proving to be an upgrade simply because of his floor-spacing capabilities while also involving his teammates.

As time passes, the possibilities of the Sixers and Simmons reconciling grows weaker and a trade becomes inevitable.

To where he goes, nobody knows at all.