What holds? Maybe something is holding a Simmons deal?

There are many reports that there are many teams interested in Ben Simmons.

On Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Atlanta, the Kings, Portland, Minnesota and the Pacers are among the teams interested in the Defensive Player of the Year Runner-up.

The Sixers don’t appear closer to moving Simmons, though, but there could be an attempt, at least according to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.

Speaking on the latest issue of The Hoop Collective Podcast with Brian Windhorst, Spears said that the Sixers want to include Tobias Harris in a deal, which could be part of the delay.

“It was complicated enough to try and move Ben Simmons,” explains Spears. “I can only imagine (Hawks GM) Travis (Schlenk) getting that call from Daryl Morey.”

As Windhorst added, with the team unable to find an All-Star in exchange for Simmons, they’ve turned their attention to trying to switch Harris with Simmons, to help pay wages, in an attempt to get back to being a player. in free company during the season. .

“They wanted to make a James Harden,” Windhorst said.

A team willing to make that deal would need to find $56 million in a contract to send the Sixers the way.

So should Sixers fans expect Simmons and Harris to deal with Atlanta? Not too fast.

“What I got was Atlanta was interested until they brought Tobias’ name up,” said Spears.

A deal with Atlanta will likely revolve around John Collins, who is unhappy with his current role with the team. but is having a good season and just signed a five-year, $125 million in-season deal and can’t move until January 15.

So how can all this end?

“People in the NBA believe, some executives in the NBA, that one of the closing games, not what’s going to happen, is Ben Simmons being traded for James Harden in a deal and trade in next summer,” Windhorst announced.

Windhorst added that Harden is close to one of the Sixers owners, Michael Rubin and of course has a relationship with Morey from their time in Houston.

A possibility? Sure. However, it does mean that the Sixers will have Simmons on their roster for the rest of the season.

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