We are right around the midway point of the NBA regular season. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the hottest teams in basketball. Thanks to an other-worldly stretch from Joel Embiid, they have won nine of their last 11 games. This hot streak has the Sixers knocking on the door of a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.

Heading into the season, the Sixers were one of the most talked-about teams in the NBA. That is partially because of their premature ending in the postseason. But it is primarily due to Ben Simmons' stalemate with the organization. After a summer filled with trade requests and rumors, the three-time All-Star has yet to take the floor this season.

Things simmered down on the Simmons front once play began, but the rumor mill is back in full swing. With a little over three weeks until the trade deadline, Daryl Morey has a big decision on his hands. Either end this saga now and take the best package available or remain patient and carry this into another offseason.

Some might argue the Sixers should feel more inclined to get a deal done with the team's resurgence, but that would not be wise. Even with Embiid's dominant play and the team playing well, the mindset cannot change. Morey has to remain patient and wait for the proper deal to come about.

At this point, selling low appears to be off the table for the Sixers. On Tuesday, it was reported the Detroit Pistons offered a package including Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk and a 1st round pick for Simmons. Morey and the Sixers organization apparently scoffed at the offer.

If they make a trade at the deadline just to get something done, staying patient for months would instantly become pointless. Plus, the trade market is not as fruitful as Morey might have hoped.

While a trade might make the team better, the question is, how much better will they be? The Sixers feel their window of contention is open now and continue to operate as such. Facilitating a trade that minimally increases their title odds is not the best use of a trade chip like Simmons.

Morey has always been known as an executive who explores all options when planning his moves. That being said, he certainly has a close eye on the potential pool of players who could be available come this offseason. Two key names include James Harden and Bradley Beal. Plus there is always the chance Damian Lillard grows unhappy with his situation in Portland.

Players like Harden and Beal are exactly what Morey is looking for in a Simmons trade. They are high-level talents to pair alongside Embiid for his peak years. If he wants to land either of the star guards in Philadelphia, he will need Simmons as the headlining piece of a sign-and-trade.

Whatever the Sixers get in return for Simmons will greatly impact their ability to compete for an NBA championship in the coming years. Even with how things have played out recently, they must keep their focus on the big picture.