Houston Rockets

Report: ‘Unlikely’ Tilman Fertitta trades James Harden to Daryl Morey

Published by
Brad Sullivan

A new report indicates that Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta will not deal James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, who recently hired former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor largely dismissed rumors that Morey’s effort to acquire Harden will involve trading away guard Ben Simmons and others.

Harden has requested a trade from the Rockets, a team he’s been with since being acquired in 2012 from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While Harden has developed into one of the NBA’s top players, the Rockets have continually come up short in their quest for an NBA title.

The 2020 playoffs resulted in the Rockets being eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals, which led to the departures of Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Fertitti’s apparent reluctance in trading Harden is likely based on his belief that Harden is still capable of leading the Rockets to a title. In addition, he presumably doesn’t want to see Morey end up accomplishing in Philadelphia what he was unable to in Houston.

Another rumored deal involving Harden deals with the Brooklyn Nets, though that’s also reportedly unlikely unless one of the Nets’ superstar players is included.

Brad Sullivan

Brad has written on a variety of both NBA and NFL topics and has worked previously as a sports information director at the collegiate level. A lifetime fan of sports, he's witnessed countless great moments in different sports and understands that stories can be compelling from both the perspective of winners and losers. As a frustrated fan of Cleveland sports, he experienced something unprecedented when the Cavaliers won the city's first championship in 52 years.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

Stephen A. Smith says he’s featured in fake video circulating social media: ‘We are living in dangerous times’

According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, there's a fake video — which may be…

2 hours ago

Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN colleague scolds him for using ‘barbershop hearsay’ on Steph Curry

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith recently relayed a controversial take that an anonymous Hall of Famer…

2 hours ago

Hall of Famer claims Steph Curry would’ve averaged 17 PPG or less in his era: ‘We would’ve hurt him’

An anonymous Hall of Famer allegedly told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that if Golden State…

1 day ago

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

2 days ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

3 days ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

4 days ago