Sixers rumors: Ben Simmons on the table in James Harden trade

The Sixers are reportedly willing to part with Ben Simmons for James Harden.

Well, this is a development. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi and Ramona Shelburne, the Philadelphia 76ers have “signaled a willingness” to include All-Star Ben Simmons in a potential trade package for James Harden. Up until this point, all reports indicated the Sixers were hesitant to include Simmons.

While opinions on the matter deviate depending on who you ask, of course the Sixers should trade Simmons for Harden. Rarely do top-five players and perennial MVP candidates become available. Harden is one of the greatest offensive players of all-time, and his fit next to Joel Embiid is tantalizing on paper.

Recent concerns over Harden’s party schedule are overblown, as quite frankly, he can party it up in Vegas all he wants if the result is 36 points per game. Harden has been in the MVP conversation as a given for years. He led Houston as close to the mountain top as any Western Conference team came during the golden era of Warriors basketball. Harden has proven he can win — and win in the playoffs — at a high level.

Harden would instantly push Philadelphia to the top of the Eastern Conference. Simmons would be a big loss — he’s 24, on a five-year contract, and one of the few best defenders in basketball — but the Sixers’ title window is not infinite. Embiid has lingering injury concerns, and the Sixers’ chances of acquiring a major third wheel next to Embiid and Simmons are slim.

Last season, Harden averaged 34.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. Doc Rivers is a pick-and-roll coach, and Harden is arguably the best pick-and-roll guard on the planet. His ability to create shots from scratch is something the Sixers would greatly benefit from.

Harden’s gravity as a scorer would also make life considerably easier on Embiid, who has undergone serious wear and tear as the Sixers’ only reliable halfcourt creator in recent years. If Embiid doesn’t have to climb Mt. Everest to score every possession, he might last later into the season.

While Woj and Shelburne note the Sixers and Rockets are far from a deal, the Sixers’ willingness to include Simmons would put them at a considerable advantage. Very few teams have comparable assets to offer. The likes of Jaylen Brown, Tyler Herro, and Caris LeVert cannot touch Simmons’ ceiling.