Stephen A. Smith says Sixers should trade Ben Simmons for James Harden
The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin in roughly two weeks and that means it’s time for the drama that the league continues to bring. It means trade rumors as all of the contenders in the league gear up for a title run.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one of those teams who are in the running for a title led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid and they have a strong roster, but with one of the bigger names in basketball currently asking for a trade, there are always rumors.
Houston Rockets star James Harden is unhappy with his current situation and he recently opened up on the idea of being traded to Philadelphia. However, any Harden deal with the Sixers would require sending one of Simmons or Embiid to Houston.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says the Sixers should send Simmons to the Rockets for Harden to team him up with Embiid:
I would remind you that four years ago when James Harden averaged 29 instead of 30. He led the league in assists and 11.2…I think that we got to give him respect where respect is due and when you consider the kind of offensive juggernaut that he is this notion that he’s got two years left, I beg to differ. I think James Harden could easily average 25 for at least the next four to five years…James Harden is significantly more explosive than Ben Simmons offensively and that’s what the Sixers need in the Eastern Conference, if you’re going to compete with Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
The Sixers have been firm on their stance that they do not want to include Simmons or Embiid in any trades as they continue to build around them, but a Harden deal does sound intriguing. He is one of the elite offensive players in the league and he did win MVP in 2018. There is not a lot that he can’t do and the Sixers should at least consider a deal to go after him.
