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PHILADELPHIA 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is apparently out of the James Harden draw if the Houston Rockets demand one of Philadelphia’s young All-Stars in return.
Morey, according to ESPN, is unwilling to involve his former employer, the Rockets, in conversations about Harden if the return package includes point guard Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid.
Simmons, 24, was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and was selected to the 2020 All-Star team along with Embiid, the third pick in the 2014 draft.
Morey inherited the local stars when he joined the franchise with new head coach Doc Rivers. Key decision makers, along with general manager Elton Brand, have publicly pledged to keep Simmons and 26-year-old Embiid.
Harden officially became a hindrance in Houston on Monday, when first-year coach Stephen Silas confirmed that the 31-year-old former MVP was not planning to show up at training camp workouts.
“He’s not here and he has a reason, but it’s up to him to tell whoever the reason is,” Silas said.
Silas was hired to replace Mike D’Antoni, who left before Morey and is now an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets with Steve Nash. Harden is also interested in meeting D’Antoni, as well as former Oklahoma City Thunder running mate Kevin Durant, in Brooklyn.
Harden reportedly first approached a trade with the Rockets at the end of the season, around the same time Morey’s departure became official.
Harden averaged 34.3 points per game, but his one-season association with Russell Westbrook was not a success in the playoffs. The Rockets finished fourth in the Western Conference at 44-28, but lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Westbrook was traded to the Washington Wizards for John Wall earlier this month. – Reuters
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