The February 10th trade deadline is rapidly approaching. All eyes are on Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers. While many are waiting to see what Daryl Morey will do with the former number one pick, signs continue to point towards a deal not being done.

Most of the recent news surfacing regarding this situation involves players who could become available this summer. The name brought up the most is Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden. Morey has been hot on the Harden trail since last season and appears to still have his sights set on a reunion with the former league MVP.

While things did not work out in their favor the first time around, here are two reasons why the Sixers should hold out for Harden.

1) Fit 

Easily one of the top reasons why the Sixers should continue their pursuit of Harden is fit. His style of play will help fill multiple holes left by Simmons and help drastically improve other areas. 

With Simmons out of the picture, the Sixers have been left with limited ball handlers and playmakers. Harden is still among the league's best when it comes to passing the ball. Currently, he is on pace to average at least ten assists per game for the fourth straight season. 

Another element he could provide is shot creation. Having someone on the perimeter who can create offense for himself will drastically open the floor. That will make life easier for Joel Embiid in the process. It will also provide the team a closer, someone that can take the last shot. That is something they have missed since the departure of Jimmy Butler. 

As dominant as Embiid is, he has struggled in the closing seconds of NBA games.

Former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins expressed he has sources that Harden would be interested in joining Embiid.

From a purely fit perspective, Harden might be the best all-around option among the pool of players the team could target in a few months. 

2) Team hierarchy 

Since the beginning of the Simmons saga, Morey has made it clear what he is eyeing in a trade. He wants an All-Star caliber player to pair alongside Joel Embiid as he enters the prime of his career. At this current stage of his career, Harden suits the role of Embiid's running mate perfectly. 

Not only does Harden complement the All-Star center greatly, but the team hierarchy will seamlessly fall into place. Embiid is proving he has what it takes to be an alpha in the NBA. The longtime Rockets' guard is a more than formidable second option. Pairing two players of this caliber together would give the Sixers one of the NBA's most unstoppable offensive duos. 

Adding Harden to the fray also does wonders for Tobias Harris. He can take some pressure and responsibility off the Sixers' forward and allow him to fall into a more comfortable role. It's evident Harris is not a clear-cut no. 2 on a good team, but we saw last season what he can do as a consistent third option. A “big three” of Embiid, Harden, and Harris could be in the conversation for the league's top trio if a deal like this were to go down. 

A lot of things can change from now until the offseason, but holding out for another shot at Harden is the correct choice for the Sixers given the current trade market.