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

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.