We are now about a month into the NBA season, and the Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons saga remains a reoccurring topic among the basketball community. Even with the Sixers having a streak of ups and downs, most eyes remain on the situation regarding the former No. 1 pick.
The three-time All-Star is not mentally ready to join the team and is currently not with them on their current road trip. While the Sixers continually try to aid Simmons in making a return to action, at this point, it seems unlikely. Similar to early in the offseason, it appears a trade is the most likely outcome of this situation.
There are multiple roadblocks in the way of the 25-year-old getting a change of scenery. The biggest one is the pool of available players via trade. Daryl Morey is not intent on trading Simmons just to do so. He is waiting for a win-now move that ups the Sixers' chances of contending for a championship.
With Joel Embiid entering the prime of his career now, the Sixers are looking to maximize his peak. Until a star-level player who complements Embiid can be acquired in a trade, this stalemate between player and organization will drag on.
Some of the main names that sit atop Morey's wishlist are Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, but they both seem content with their current situations. One old name that has recently popped up in rumors again is Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden.
We all know how Morey feels about Harden and his talents. He spent years building a roster tailor-made to Harden's game in Houston and then tried to swing a deal for him last season. It appears this reunion is a dream Morey has not let go of just yet.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Sam Amick reported there is a list of close to 30 current players who meet the criteria of what the Sixers are looking for in a Simmons trade. Among the players on that list is Harden. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer also reported on a pursuit for Harden prior to the Sixers' matchup with the Denver Nuggets Thursday:
However, several members of the front office are keen on the idea of keeping Simmons this season and pursuing Harden from the Brooklyn Nets for a sign and trade, according to multiple sources.
Harden is set to become a free agent this summer and could be acquired via sign-and-trade. While a move like this certainly raises the Sixers' ceiling, it could be problematic down the road.
Brooklyn already has all the offensive firepower a team needs in today's NBA. Gifting them a player with Simmons' skill set might truly put them over the top. Kevin Durant is still one of the league's premier talents and having an all-world offensive season. If he were to be flanked by an elite defender like Simmons, it will be almost impossible for teams to compete with them.
With the goal of winning a championship in mind, it seems doubtful Morey would do business with one of the biggest threats. While the reward is extremely high in this situation, unfortunately, so is the risk.
Because of the chance of another contender getting better, heavily pursuing Harden at this point might not be the best avenue for the Sixers to go down. Not to mention waiting that long for something that's a long shot would be a huge risk in its own right.
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