Rumor: Sixers GM Daryl Morey "Trying To Get His Hands on James Harden"

Now that the Kyrie Irving situation has devolved into him being banned from the Brooklyn Nets until he gets vaccinated, at least one NBA insider is suggesting that this development could force James Harden out of Brooklyn as well. 

Stephen A. Smith had a prolonged soliloquy on ESPN's First Take this morning about how the Nets are "disgusted" with Kyrie, and that they "have to get rid of him", then finished by insisting that this could be an "in" for Philadelphia 76ers GM Daryl Morey to get his hands on Harden, who, he surmises, perhaps is also tired of the Nets circus:

"The Brooklyn Nets need to get rid of Kyrie Irving. He got to go!"

—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/hdFSTUI5jW

— First Take (@FirstTake) October 12, 2021

"Now, you might lose James Harden," said Smith, according to his sources. "Daryl Morey is lurking in Philadelphia. Don't think for one second that he isn't trying to get his hands on James Harden. I'm telling you what I know!"

Morey, of course, was the Houston Rockets' GM who brought Harden to Houston, and gave him, basically, free rein to run the team on the floor, launching The Beard into the superstar he is today. 

After Morey's exit to Philadelphia, Harden forced his way out of Texas, with Morey and the Sixers nearly dealing Ben Simmons to Houston to get him. 

Ultimately, however, Harden got his wish of joining the Nets where he could compete for a championship with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. With Irving gone (at least for the foreseeable future), will Harden reconsider what this Nets team can accomplish? Will he foresee a tandem with Joel Embiid in Philly as a better track to a title?

According to Stephen A., that just might be the case. 

Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports