By all accounts, the Philadelphia 76ers were among the finalists for the services of star guard James Harden. Despite much speculation that they’d land him, the Brooklyn Nets were the ones to close on a deal — leaving Philly with the status quo.
Apparently, however, it was the Sixers who turned down the opportunity.
The Rockets wanted Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, and draft picks from the 76ers for Harden.
Philly said no deal.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 13, 2021
Ben Simmons has yet to live up to his expectations, but he has been a key player for the Sixers since being drafted in 2016. As a 2x All-Star, 1x All-NBA player, and a 16-point-per-game scorer, he has emerged as one of the best young players in the game.
This season, Philly has gotten off to an 8-4 start, and optimism remains high for the team.
Meanwhile, Harden has made a mess of his departure in Houston. Not only did he go AWOL during pre-season training camp, but he also announced his displeasure to the media, resulting in many of his teammates calling him out.
It’s understandable that the Sixers would be reluctant to take him into their locker room.
Nevertheless, they can’t prove they made the right decision until we see what they do in the postseason.
