Report: Nets open to trading James Harden for 76ers' Ben Simmons

Those trade rumors involving the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are about to get spicier ahead of the deadline for such transactions set for this coming Thursday. 

It was reported last week that the Nets would not entertain trade offers for superstar guard James Harden regardless of his reported unhappiness with aspects of the team. However, The Athletic's Shams Charania dropped a bombshell Friday afternoon when he reported 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey could look to acquire Harden before the upcoming trade deadline. Additionally, Charania says the Nets "are believed to be open" to discussing a deal that would land them unsettled All-Star guard Ben Simmons. 

Simmons requested a trade from the Sixers this past offseason and hasn't played a second for the club in 2021-22 due to reported mental health reasons. 

Per Charania, Philadelphia could package Simmons along with others such as Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey and/or Matisse Thybulle in a trade for Harden. Charania adds that Harden's "dominant ball-handling" playing style isn't meshing with current star teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving even though the Nets have gone 13-3 when the three have played together. 

It was recently reported Morey was willing to wait until the summer to receive his desired haul for Simmons, but Harden's alleged availability would understandably change the discussion. The one-time Most Valuable Player could push the 76ers closer to their goal of winning the NBA Finals this spring, but that reality could ultimately convince Brooklyn to not pull the trigger on a deal over the next week even if doing so would theoretically benefit everyone involved.