Philadelphia 76ers: What a trade for James Harden might look like

Factor No. 1 in a James Harden trade: Tilman Fertitta’s financials

Whether you call him the owner of the Houston Rockets or the NBA’s brokest boi, Tilman Fertitta has had plenty to do with the exodus of talent the organization has experienced recently. Between head coach Mike D’Antoni getting lowballed in extension negotiations and simply leaving the team after his contract expired and Daryl Morey leaving the team to spend time with his family and then immediately taking the job with the Sixers as soon as he got out of Fertitta’s earshot, there’s just one common denominator.

If the Houston Rockets were to relent and make Harden available, Fertitta’s suffering financials would likely be a big reason why. He couldn’t afford to buy this team when he did and needed to borrow from the previous owner, Les Alexander, in order to seal the deal. That was before the coronavirus pandemic ravished his hospitality and gambling businesses, and things have only gotten worse for him over the past year as a result.

Conversely, Sixers ownership has bottomless pockets and are sick of underachieving, so if they have an opportunity to send the Rockets short or long-term salary relief in order to get one of the NBA’s biggest stars, they’d gladly do so and call it a day.

How to do that? That’s the question.