Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers Are James Harden's Preferred Trade Destinations

Could James Harden join Russell Westbrook in wanting out of sinking Rockets ship? 

The Athletic reported Monday that Harden "wants to be on a contender" elsewhere and that the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are his preferred destination. 

This is just the latest bad news in a tumultuous offseason for the Rockets, who have already lost their general manager Daryl Morey and coach Mike D'Antoni. And just last week, Harden's Rockets running mate Westbrook reportedly asked for a trade out of Houston. 

Morey, who traded for Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder, is now the president of basketball operations for the Sixers, so it makes sense why Philadelphia would be at the top of Harden's wish list. If the 76ers do land Harden, it'll be fascinating to see if they could acquire the former MVP without surrendering Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid. 

Harden would also reportedly be open to joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn with the Nets. Durant was Harden's former teammate with the Thunder earlier in their careers. It's a peculiar fit with all three of those superstars being ball-dominant players with incredibly high usage rates, but — success or disaster — it would be fun to see. 

As the Rockets' demise grows closer and closer, expect more and more rumors to swirl around Harden, who is the biggest name on the trade market after Chris Paul was dealt to the Suns on Monday. 

Photo: Getty Images