Let’s get it back to Ben Simmons trade rumors.

Jake Fischer at Bleacher Report:

The possibility of landing (James) Harden has quietly hung over the Simmons dynamic all along. Philadelphia nearly shipped Simmons to Houston for Harden back in January, an outcome Harden was known around the league to have welcomed. If a strong enough deal for Simmons never comes Philadelphia’s way this season, there have been ongoing whispers about a free-agency sign-and-trade for Simmons that would allow Harden to join forces with Embiid, and rejoin Daryl Morey.     

For now, Brooklyn stands atop the Eastern Conference, and moving Harden for Simmons makes little sense for Sean Marks’ braintrust, especially as Kyrie Irving remains inactive. Yet Brooklyn appears eager to upgrade its roster ahead of the trade deadline and Harden’s impending free agency. It’s clear these Nets are not the juggernaut title favorite that entered training camp.  

Eh.

Harden turns 33 in August. He’s having a good year for the Nets, but his numbers are down from last year and the year prior. If the Sixers wait an ENTIRE YEAR to move Simmons, and don’t do anything by February, then they have wasted a full season of prime Joel Embiid while playing $33 million below the salary cap. That would amount to organizational malpractice, yeah? I think so.

Let’s do something soon. Something this year. Let’s #DoTheDeal, whatever the deal is. Make Sixers basketball meaningful again. #MSBMA