James Harden Trade Rumors: Nets, 76ers the 'Top Desired' Teams for Rockets Star

Houston Rockets superstar James Harden "wants to be on a contender elsewhere," and the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are "believed to be his top desired trade destinations," according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

However, Charania said the Rockets are "fully comfortable" going into the season with both Harden and Russell Westbrook on the team.

Both teams would offer fascinating fits for Harden. The Sixers would be a natural fit for Harden's skill set next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, giving them a guard who can both facilitate the offense in the half-court and create his own offense that the team so desperately needs. You couldn't draw up a better player for what Philly needs than Harden. 

But could the Sixers even get Harden without including Simmons in the deal? Or would the Rockets entertain a package of Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton and several future first-round picks? How about Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Thybulle, Milton and picks?

For Harden, those returns might be met with a resounding "meh" from Houston. 

The Nets present the opposite situation. They can offer some pretty intriguing trade packages around Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and future picks. The question in Brooklyn, however, is whether three ball-dominant players like Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could coexist in the long term, or if they would eventually blow up spectacularly. 

Harden and Irving in particular seem like poor fits in the same backcourt, as both like to play with the ball in their hands. Both have also played off the ball to some degree in their past, but at this point in their careers, is either really willing to make the sacrifice? 

Chances are, the Rockets will make every effort to smooth things over with Harden. But the fact that his reported preferences for trade destinations are leaking to the press indicates that the player perhaps is ready for a change of scenery. It could be a nail-biter of an offseason in Houston.