Looking back at timeline of Daryl Morey's patient game with Ben Simmons trade which netted them James Harden

Despite being in the NBA for less than 10 years, Ben Simmons is already one of the most storied players in history. Initially drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, the league expected many great things from him. While Simmons established himself as an All-Star in the league, the current flow of his career isn't exactly what everyone hoped it would be.

Ben Simmons eventually became dissatisfied with the Sixers and refused to play for the team in the 2021-22 season. The president of basketball operations for Philadelphia, Daryl Morey, could've easily let go of Simmons when things started to take a wrong turn. Luckily, Morey was patient enough to wait for a better option and ended up landing a deal involving his beloved James Harden.

James Harden is now playing for the Sixers, while Simmons is with the Brooklyn Nets. Based on the outcome, it seems like both parties are happy with the trade. But how exactly did the trade come about?

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Taking a closer look at the James Harden and Ben Simmons trade

Brooklyn Nets v Philadelphia 76ers

The James Harden and Ben Simmons trade issue dates all the way back to 2020. According to Yahoo Sports, Daryl Morey wanted to reunite with Harden in Philadelphia. Due to his sentiments, Morey requested a trade with the Houston Rockets that involved "The Beard" being swapped with the Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons. The trade never happened, but it seemed like a possibility in the future.

James Harden clearly wasn't happy with the Rockets anymore after Daryl Morey moved to Philly. Harden and Morey have built a solid bond during their time in Houston, which is why the GM wanted to acquire the star guard. Unfortunately, Morey's attempt to trade for "The Beard" offended Ben Simmons. The Australian eventually let it slide, but this changed his dynamic with the team.

One year later, during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Simmons somehow cost the Sixers their game against the Atlanta Hawks. Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers expressed how they felt about the Australian's lack of confidence on the court. From that moment onward, Simmons lost interest in the team and refused to play games nor show up to practice come the 2021-22 season.

While Daryl Morey was waiting for the perfect opportunity to let go of Simmons, James Harden had issues with the Brooklyn Nets. During Harden's time in Brooklyn last season, he became frustrated with his situation. Steve Nash made questionable coaching decisions, Kyrie Irving was only a part-timer and Kevin Durant was out due to injury.

As a result, Harden requested a trade and wanted to get out of his messy circumstances as quickly as possible. Morey immediately heard about it and took advantage of the situation. It was the right moment to let go of Ben Simmons and finally reunite with the player he likes most, James Harden. The trade was approved and took place in February 2022.