The 76ers are making star guard/forward Ben Simmons available in trade discussions with Rockets centered on James Harden, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
While conversations are fluid, Charania reported, Simmons is available in “some packages” being proposed by the Sixers.
Harden requested a trade last month, and the Rockets seem to be exploring the idea of moving him now more than ever, according to an ESPN report.
Current Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey spent 13 years as the Rockets general manager. Morey stepped down from that post after the season.
Along with the Sixers, the Rockets are reportedly in talks with several others about a Harden trade, including the Nets. ESPN reported they have discussed potential deals with teams outside of those two.
The Rockets are keeping Harden in the loop on trade talks, per ESPN.
Along with the Nets and Sixers, Harden’s preferred destinations are said to include the Bucks and Heat.
“Right now, I’m focused on being here,” Harden told reporters Tuesday. “Today was good, yesterday felt really good being out there for the first time since the bubble. I hadn’t really had an opportunity to do a lot of five-on-five work. But for my first time being out there, I think I felt pretty good.”
