Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is still open to being traded to the Sixers or other contenders, per Adrian Wojnarowski.
Reporting w/ @ESPN_MacMahon: James Harden has recently indicated to Houston he'd be open to a trade to Philadelphia or other contenders. So far, no substantive talks with Sixers. Daryl Morey's been adamant he wants to keep his two young stars. https://t.co/9ZFKB8MSGx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 8, 2020
Woj is reporting that after trade talks with Brooklyn did not seem to go anywhere, Harden has expressed he is willing to be traded to other contenders like the Sixers.
Multiple reports came out three weeks ago that Harden would welcome a trade to Brooklyn or Philadelphia. Now the eight-time all star has not shown up to Houston’s training camp until today, in what appears to be an attempt to hold out until he gets what he wants.
Daryl Morey has indicated he does not want to break up the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Houston would most likely want one of them in a deal for Harden.
If Morey holds his stance, a trade becomes much harder but maybe still obtainable. The main piece the Sixers would then have to give up is Tobias Harris for salary cap purposes. In addition, the Rockets would need several other smaller pieces, like multiple future first round picks and/or young role players such as Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz, and rookie Tyrese Maxey.
Houston is still being patient with Harden and could try to work things out. A move may not happen right away, if at all, so Sixers fans might have to remain patient in hopes to land the superstar. Morey has done an excellent job improving the Sixers in a short amount of time, but a move like trading for James Harden would put the team back as a contender.
