The Philadelphia 76ers are scuffling, having lost nine of their last 12 games while enduring a lot of adversity. They just welcomed Joel Embiid back to the lineup after he missed nine games due to COVID-19, and they are trying to re-integrate him.

Embiid struggled mightily in the team’s 88-87 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, and they are still looking for the way to get back into title contention with the big fella leading the way. With a record of 11-11, the Sixers are mired in the middle of the conference standings at the quarter mark.

One way to help the team would be to bring in a guy who can score at will as well as create for others. Brooklyn Nets star James Harden would be a perfect fit.

Harden has a $46.8 million player option for the 2022-23 season, and it is unclear if he will exercise that option to stay in Brooklyn. Therefore, president Daryl Morey and the Sixers are keeping an eye on the situation as they look to replace disgruntled star Ben Simmons with a new star to partner with Embiid.

Per Ian Begley of SNY:

Nets people who would need to be aware of Harden’s future were well aware that Philadelphia loomed as a potential suitor for the guard, SNY sources say.

The Sixers and team president Daryl Morey attempted to trade for Harden last season before the Nets landed him. Philadelphia was willing to include Simmons in the trade, which is one of the many factors in Simmons’ falling out with the organization.

As Begley noted, the Sixers have been hot on the trail for Harden for a while. Before he was moved to the Nets, the Sixers were zeroing in on Harden, who has a history with Morey during their time with the Houston Rockets. It is unlikely the Nets move Harden in-season, but that doesn’t mean that Morey and the Sixers won’t at least try to make a move for him.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!