The Philadelphia 76ers were listed on the short-list of preferred destinations for Houston Rockets superstar James Harden. Would they be willing to move Ben Simmons in order to get a trade completed?

During an appearance on NBA-TV, Shams Charania reported that Philadelphia has not been willing to deal Ben Simmons in a trade with the Rockets for James Harden.

“As far as the Sixers are concerned, unless they’re putting in Ben Simmons, which I’m told they’re not inclined to do right now, I don’t see a deal structure that makes sense for Philly outside of a guy like Ben Simmons. So the Sixers and the Nets are gonna have to see if they can cobble a deal together,” said Shams Charania.

There doesn’t appear to be a reasonable pathway for the Philadelphia 76ers to land Harden in a trade without being willing to part with either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid. Harden isn’t on an expiring contract, so there isn’t a need for the Rockets to be urgent.

The 76ers would be wise to operate with the understanding that if a potential trade between the Rockets and Brooklyn Nets centered around Harden was to occur, it would make it incredibly difficult to contend in the Eastern Conference.

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Instead of having to go up against James Harden along with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the 76ers would be in a position to have Joel Embiid with a perennial MVP candidate. That should provide additional motivation when considering the full context.

The Houston Rockets likely will not be pushed into trading James Harden prematurely and for an undesirable trade package. Whether it’s the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers, one of the teams on his preferred destinations list has an opportunity to step up and pull it off.

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