RUMOR: Houston Rockets Major James Harden Trade Demand To 76ers Gets Revealed

December 14, 2020, 11:26am EST (Updated: February 19, 2023, 7:13pm)By Darrelle Lincoln

The Houston Rockets are laying it out to all teams that they want a boatload of assets back in exchange for James Harden.

On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Yaron Weitzman dropped a bombshell that the Rockets are asking the 76ers took fork over Ben Simmons as well as 3-first round picks if they want to get James Harden.

The Houston Rockets have asked the Philadelphia 76ers for 3 first round picks AND Ben Simmons in a trade for James Harden, per @YaronWeitzman pic.twitter.com/9X3J6dAdkq
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) December 14, 2020

According to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, the Sixers remain the most likely destination in any Harden deal.

The Rockets insist (for now) they will not trade Harden. The Sixers insist (for now) they will not trade Ben Simmons

But sources say the familiarity between the front offices can ultimately defuse any lingering tension from Daryl Morey's departure from Houston to Philadelphia
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 11, 2020

The 31-year-old Harden averaged 34.3 points, 7.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. He’s led the league in scoring for the last three seasons.