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The Philadelphia 76ers held serious conversations with the Houston Rockets centered on a trade of Ben Simmons for James Harden, but ultimately decided not to complete a deal and let him go to the Brooklyn Nets.

"I think I can say this on your podcast," said Ramona Shelburne. "I think it will be okay. I'm not betraying a confidence. I think the 76ers are just fine. They're happy.

"Like, they were intrigued by this idea. Obviously, Daryl Morey knows how good James Harden is. I think they were really intrigued by the idea of what James Harden would do for Joel Embiid. We'll never know. We're never going to know what that would have been.

"But they really had been playing well with Joel and Ben Simmons. I talked to Joel Embiid just a couple days ago and he was really talking up Ben Simmons and how much they've gotten along this year. They really have connected this year. Now, we get to see what actually happens with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons."

Via Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Sixers dodged a bullet. Daryl Morey I question his GM ability for even offering a young Ben Simmons in a package for an old James Harden.

If you are trading away Ben Simmons the return has to be for a peer. Simmons peers are Doncic,Tatum,Booker,Beale,McCollum,Donovan Mitchell.

NBA Moses wrote:Sixers dodged a bullet. Daryl Morey I question his GM ability for even offering a young Ben Simmons in a package for an old James Harden.

If you are trading away Ben Simmons the return has to be for a peer. Simmons peers are Doncic,Tatum,Booker,Beale,McCollum,Donovan Mitchell.

If you think Doncic and Tatum are Ben Simmons peer, I question your basketball ability.

Rockets weren’t even really interested in that deal and used it as a bargaining chip. Simmons can’t shoot for shiz and would had been traded as a potential franchise player which he’s not.

NBA Moses wrote:Sixers dodged a bullet. Daryl Morey I question his GM ability for even offering a young Ben Simmons in a package for an old James Harden.

If you are trading away Ben Simmons the return has to be for a peer. Simmons peers are Doncic,Tatum,Booker,Beale,McCollum,Donovan Mitchell.

Simmons so overrated. Wait In playoffs when they need scoring

I'm sure Simmons is happy that Philly is just fine with not trading him.

Ferulci wrote:

NBA Moses wrote:Sixers dodged a bullet. Daryl Morey I question his GM ability for even offering a young Ben Simmons in a package for an old James Harden.

If you are trading away Ben Simmons the return has to be for a peer. Simmons peers are Doncic,Tatum,Booker,Beale,McCollum,Donovan Mitchell.

If you think Doncic and Tatum are Ben Simmons peer, I question your basketball ability.

1/2 the game is defense which is where Ben Simmons excels.
Ben Simmons - Rookie of the Year
Ben Simmons- 2x all-star
Ben Simmons- NBA All-Defensive Team
Ben Simmons. Youngest player to post 30 Triple Doubles since Magic Johnson/Oscar Robertson

So the young star players as of right now . Some of these names could be moved a slot or 2 either way.

Doncic
Tatum
Embiid
Simmons
Booker
D.Mitchell
J Murray

So yes Ben Simmons is a top 20 NBA player and he is part of the top young core in NBA.

Should have never been included in a trade for a 31 y.o locker room problem.

So Rockets were pushing to get Maxey. Easy to understand. He looks like he can become really special.