The NBA trade deadline is barely two weeks away, and the big storyline has undoubtedly been the immediate future of Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.
Simmons has not played a minute of NBA action for the Sixers this season as he hopes to force the franchise’s hand and be traded elsewhere.
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But despite his best efforts, a new twist has emerged that presents a major barrier for the 26-year-old to secure a move before February 10.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick, the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks are the leaders in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes at this moment in time.
However, those two teams might not have a say in securing the Australian as Sixers President Daryl Morey reportedly is happy to hold on to his prized asset until the summer because he has a much bigger fish in mind: Brooklyn Nets superstar James Harden.
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“The notion of Morey holding out hope for a Harden reunion should surprise no one who saw them thrive together during those eight seasons together in Houston,” Charania and Amick said.
“It wasn’t just the on-court success that created their bond, though the perennial playoff appearances (including two Western Conference Finals) didn’t hurt.
“It was the way Morey empowered Harden like never before, hiring a coach in Mike D’Antoni whose system played so wonderfully to his strengths and building the roster around him throughout.”
It isn’t the first time a Simmons-Harden trade has been floated, either.
Morey tried to move for the 32-year-old last summer in a deal that would have sent Simmons, Matisse Thybulle and two first-round picks the other way to Rockets, and discussions reached a point where Simmons was looking at houses in Houston.
However, the Rockets opted to deal with Brooklyn as Harden moved to the Nets in return for four first-round picks and four draft swaps.
“Yet a year later, sources say Morey still has some optimism that he can finally find a way to bring Harden his way,” Charania and Amick said.
“More specifically, he believes that the nine-time All-Star and 2018 MVP sees the Sixers’ situation in a positive light.
The driving force behind Morey’s reported decision to hold onto Simmons until the summer is because of Joel Embiid’s absurd form this season.
Embiid is in the peak years of his career, and is one of two players averaging at least 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists this season.
With Embiid in his peak years, it has reportedly shifted the front office’s mentality on any Simmons trade.
“Sources say Morey has full support of ownership to take this situation beyond this deadline and into the summer, with the internal belief that they simply must prioritise Embiid’s prime over the course of the next several years rather than act too quickly because of this season’s stakes,” Charania and Amick reported.
“’There’s no sense of panic (to do a deal before the deadline),’ one source with knowledge of the Sixers’ thinking said.”