NBA Rumors: Houston Rockets won’t trade James Harden for Ben Simmons
NBA Rumors: Rockets aren’t interested in potential James Harden for Ben Simmons swap
Over the course of a few weeks, we saw front office executive Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets part ways and then saw Morey get hired (expected to be finalized this weekend) by the Philadelphia 76ers to run the team’s basketball operations.
As you’d expect, it caught many off-guard and led to many questions regarding both the Rockets and Sixers.
Would this move mean that the Rockets would be heading into a possible rebuild, which could mean moving on from some of their big pieces? Would hiring Morey open the Sixers to possibly trading one of Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons? If so, what trade target could Morey have his eye on?
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While all are valid questions, it seems that both the Rockets and Sixers will stand pat – at least for now. Specifically, from Houston’s perspective, they will not trade James Harden. Much less send him to Morey and the Sixers, not even for Ben Simmons.
"[via The Hoop Collective]“I’ve already been told with a few expletives included by somebody with the Rockets: ‘No, Daryl, James Harden for Ben Simmons is not happening. Don’t ask.’”"
This shouldn’t come as a surprising revelation. The Rockets are locked into the core of Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Eric Gordon for at least the next three seasons. While many have tossed the idea of the team potentially moving Harden and pivoting to a rebuild, especially after the departure of Daryl Morey, that simply is not a realistic option.
It would make little sense for the Rockets to enter a rebuild this offseason, especially if they would have trouble moving Westbrook. If the team can’t blow it all up, moving Harden would accomplish very little.
Plus, trading Harden for a player like Ben Simmons would make even less sense considering he wouldn’t be a great fit next to Westbrook.
Next. Philadelphia 76ers: 4 trades Daryl Morey could make to make a splash. dark
At least for the time being, the Rockets won’t be trading James Harden. That could change in the next year or two, but it would be extremely foolish of them to make such a pivot right now. Even with a new leader in the front office. Sorry, Sixers fans.