As more details emerge about building tensions between the Houston Rockets and James Harden, so too do reports of the teams that have explored a potential deal for the superstar.
According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, outside of Harden's preferred destinations of Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Miami and Milwaukee, teams that have had "exploratory talks" with the Rockets about the former MVP include the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.
What "exploratory talks" means exactly or how far these talks progressed isn't entirely clear, but it's common for teams to due their due diligence on any player -- especially one of Harden's calibre.
With the Miami Heat reportedly out on Harden, Stein writes that he believes the 76ers are the "most likely landing spot" for him because of a potential return including Ben Simmons and the existing relationship between new Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and Rafael Stone, Morey's successor as GM in Houston.
While plenty of rumours continue to swirl around which teams are in and which teams are out of the Harden sweepstakes, it's looking more and more likely the 31-year-old will be a member of the Rockets when the team's season tips off on Wednesday night in Houston against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
