Sixers Watch As James Harden Reportedly Traded To Rival Brooklyn

PHILADELPHIA, PA — For a few bizarre hours Wednesday afternoon, while the historic second impeachment of the President of the United States was underway, it appeared that the Philadelphia 76ers might be on the brink making history, too.

Rumors intensified in the basketball world Wednesday, indicating that the Sixers appeared to be the favorites to land Houston Rockets superstar James Harden, who has been the subject of trade talk for months.

Ultimately, Harden was dealt to the Sixers' division rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, in a massive blockbuster involving four teams, eight draft picks, and numerous other players, including Indiana's star Victor Oladipo, according to multiple sources. The news was first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

That deal apparently was better than anything the Sixers offered, which, according to multiple prominent NBA insiders, included Ben Simmons, and possibly promising youngster Tyrese Maxey. Defensive specialist Matthise Thybulle was also discussed, reports indicated.

It appears the Sixers were the runners-up in the battle to land Harden, who has seen his relationship with the Houston organization fractured beyond repair over the past several months.

Harden, 31, slots in beside Nets current stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to create one of the most imposing threesomes in the NBA.

Rumors had flown weeks ago that the Sixers had offered Simmons in a package for Harden, but Sixers first year general manager Daryl Morey vociferously rejected the claims. Morey has already significantly overhauled the Sixers roster, and it's seemingly worked: when healthy, they've been near untouchable this season, and currently sit at 8-4 atop the Eastern Conference.

Known as "The Beard," Harden won the NBA MVP award in the 2017-18 season and has led the NBA in scoring for the last three seasons. His name is usually mentioned in debates over the best five players in the NBA.

The Sixers will now have their hands full in the East fending off the new Brooklyn supersquad, along with perennial contenders like the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics. Jimmy Butler's reigning East champs in Miami can't be counted out, either.

But a trade would have come at an extremely steep cost for Philadelphia. Simmons, just 24, likely has many of his best prime years before him. Harden is elite, but seven years older. Simmons is one of the best defenders in the NBA, a two-time All Star, a Rookie of the Year winner, and has been the co-face of the "The Process" alongside Embiid for years.

And that's to say nothing of Maxey, 20, the Sixers' first round pick in 2020, who burst onto the scene with several explosive games early this season.

The final trade sends Indiana star Oladipo back to the Rockets along with eight draft picks over the next several years. The Pacers get guard Caris LaVert, while the Cleveland Cavaliers who supplied some of the draft picks, will get center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince. The Rockets will also get Cleveland's Dane Exum and Brooklyn's Rodions Kurucs, the ESPN report states.