Report indicates that the Chicago Bulls are the Philadelphia 76ers' best hope of trading James Harden

Offseason drama appears to follow former MVP James Harden wherever he goes, and this time, it's in Philadelphia. The veteran wingman recently opted into his $35.6 million deal with the intention of finding a suitable trade partner. However, that task may prove difficult, given Harden's salary and his recent struggles in the NBA Playoffs. However, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports has pegged the Chicago Bulls as one team that may be willing to play ball with Harden and the Sixers.

Major change

According to Fischer, Chicago could be the Sixers' best shot at trading their disgruntled two-guard, especially since the Bulls have already had conversations regarding the trade value of All-Star wingman Zach LaVine. In addition, DeMar DeRozan is entering the final year of his contract, and the Bulls may want to move him for some assets rather than see him walk next offseason.

"Chicago would be one potential trade partner to keep in mind, as the Bulls have made Zach LaVine available in conversations this offseason, sources said, and could also send an All-Star such as DeMar DeRozan back to Philadelphia," wrote Fischer.

.@ColemanESPN on the best fit for Harden 👀

"James Harden wants to win, but he wants to win on his terms. He wants to be the guy, but he's never been the guy that you can trust to win a championship. ... The best fit for James Harden has been team James Harden." pic.twitter.com/ESNy35JU6I
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 30, 2023

Would this be the right move?

On the surface, adding Harden brings a lot of firepower. After all, the 15-year pro has averaged over 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7 assists in exactly 1,000 regular season games. However, Harden's postseason mishaps are well-chronicled. In the last two NBA Playoffs, Harden has averaged less than 20 points and shot the ball under 40 percent.

His last two games against the Boston Celtics in the second round were particularly brutal. Game 6 saw him score 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting, while the deciding Game 7 saw Harden manage just nine points on 3-of-11 shooting. To make matters worse, Harden also committed five turnovers.