Houston Rockets: 3 assets to target in James Harden trade

No. 1 – Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the most noteworthy names in the James Harden trade sweepstakes this offseason. This is because of Harden’s relationship with the 76ers’ new president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey. Morey was Harden’s GM with the Rockets for the past eight seasons, and many questioned whether that relationship could lead to a pursuit of a trade.

If so, Ben Simmons will undoubtedly be the piece that gets the ball rolling in any deal. Simmons is off to a slow start this season by his typical standards, averaging just 13.2 points on 48.9 percent shooting, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. While the numbers might not jump off the page, Simmons is certainly a premier star in the bigger picture.

Although the nonexistent 3-point shot remains a concern with Simmons, everything else he does screams superstar potential. At 24-years-old, Simmons is already a two-time All-Star, All-NBA honoree and All-Defensive team member, and that is just the start of his resume. Yet, there is still plenty of room to grow with the former No. 1 overall pick, and he would unquestionably fit the bill in Houston’s asking price.

However, there have been some conflicting reports about Simmons’ availability in any trade discussion with the Houston Rockets. The Athletic’s Shams Charania initially reported that Philadelphia was willing to include him, but Daryl Morey debunked this speculation soon after, telling Charania, “We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future.”

Despite Morey’s comments, the 76ers are going to remain connected to James Harden because of that aforementioned Morey relationship. Ben Simmons is arguably the most desirable target the Rockets could realistically get in return for Harden, and time will tell if it ever becomes a reality.