Update: Philadelphia has offered Ben Simmons in trade talks with the Rockets, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle reports.
The Rockets may be closing in on a James Harden deal with the disgruntled star being held out of practice in Houston. The franchise has spoken to a number of teams, including the Nets and Sixers, and it appears that Philadelphia has the assets that would satisfy the team’s front office.
Houston is pursuing a package headlined by Ben Simmons and Tyrese Maxey, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports. Philadelphia has maintained an interest in Harden, though whether or not Simmons is on the table remains to be seen. However, it would be hard to imagine Daryl Morey & Co. having enough to entice Houston without including the former LSU star.
Philadelphia is reportedly searching the trade market for more picks to potentially sweeten the deal with Houston, per USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt—presumably to add along with Simmons in a package. The Sixers are without their 2025 first-rounder because of the Al Horford deal while the Nets (leading candidate for Harden aside from Philly) is reportedly willing to offer all of its first-rounders and pick swaps.
The Sixers would also have interest in P.J. Tucker should the two sides come together on a Harden deal.
Stein also adds that Houston is “increasingly determined to complete a James Harden trade as soon as today.”
Read More | Nets Preparing Package for James Harden
