Almost since the moment Daryl Morey took over as president of basketball operations in Philadelphia, the 76ers have been tied to James Harden. Don't forget: Morey nearly traded Ben Simmons for Harden before the guard landed with the Brooklyn Nets last season.

As fate would have it just over a year later, Morey is looking yet again to reunite with his Houston running mate.

The question is: Is a Harden trade worth it at the deadline? Or at all?

Philadelphia is 31-21 and two games out of first place in the Eastern Conference, two games ahead of Brooklyn. Joel Embiid is currently the front-runner for MVP, per FanDuel. All of this with Simmons, who is waiting to be traded, not suiting up for a single game this season.

However, the Sixers need to add firepower for a run at a title. They have been scouring the trade market, using Simmons as the focal point to find that missing piece or pieces.

The rumor mill has been swirling since the season began about Morey's interest in Harden. It seemed unrealistic early in the year, but after resisting the initial push, the Nets appear open to trading Harden to Philadelphia, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

But it's not the right deal for Philadelphia.