Rockets want 3 first round picks, Ben Simmons from Sixers in James Harden deal
There has been a lot of drama surrounding the Houston Rockets in recent weeks. Their superstar duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook began asking for their own trade requests around November as they have been unhappy with the moves the franchise made.
Westbrook got his wish as he was sent to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall. As for Harden? He is still waiting for his trade and he has not been with the team since training camp and preseason games began.
Harden has put together a list of teams to be traded to and the Philadelphia 76ers have been one of those teams as the season gets closer to getting underway. However, to get a guy like Harden, it would mean giving up one of Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid to get the job done.
It makes sense as one would have to give up a star to get a star, but the Sixers have remained steadfast that they will not give up Simmons in a deal to get Harden.
Now, it appears that the Rockets also want draft picks along with Simmons for Harden.
Re: Sixers-Harden negotiations: I'm told the Rockets have asked the Sixers for 3 first round picks in addition to Ben Simmons. As many others have reported, the Sixers so far have been unwilling to include Simmons in any proposals.
— Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) December 14, 2020
The Sixers can offer the best package for Harden due to how talented Simmons is, but it’s a move Philadelphia should have to think twice about doing as they continue to move forward. Simmons and Embiid are still so young and the front office put the right pieces–shooting–around the two of them. Unless they get off to a slow start and similar issues show up, Philadelphia should refrain from moving Simmons no matter how talented Harden is.
