The Denver Nuggets have interest in participating in a multi-team trade with the Houston Rockets even if they don't end up acquiring James Harden. 

The Rockets are known to be targeting Michael Porter Jr. as a young player with All-Star potential. It is not known what type of return the Nuggets would seek if they included Porter. The Nuggets have had interest in Jrue Holiday and Bradley Beal in recent months.

Denver has made Jamal Murray untouchable in Harden talks.

The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors have joined the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat in making a "courtesy call" to the Houston Rockets on a James Harden trade, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

The Milwaukee Bucks even had an internal conversation and ran it past Giannis Antetokounmpo before deciding not to pursue Harden at all.

There are approximately seven teams in the East that can realistically talk themselves into having an opportunity to reach the Conference Finals, which puts the possibility of a Harden trade for one of them a balance of power shifting move.

The Philadelphia 76ers were determined to enter the 20-21 season with their present roster in place to determine how Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and their new acquisitions would play before assessing whether to pursue a trade for James Harden.

Sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that "the results, chemistry, perceived ceiling and the like would all be factored in when it came to what might come next on the Harden front.

The 76ers are widely believed to have the capacity to put together the most attractive trade package for Harden due to the presence of a young star in Simmons. Daryl Morey also may covet acquiring Harden more than any other executive in the league due to their history together with the Houston Rockets.

The Milwaukee Bucks don't view James Harden "as a culture fit for their group" and have no plans to try to trade for him, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic. 

After trading for Jrue Holiday this offseason, the Bucks also likely lack the requisite trade pieces to acquire Harden unless they found a third team who desperately wants Holiday or Khris Middleton.

Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo have also appeared to have an icy relationship as they finished first and second in MVP voting in 2019.

The Brooklyn Nets have been on James Harden's trade list, but there appears to have been very little in the way of discussions with the Houston Rockets.

Spencer Dinwiddie has been linked with a potential trade for Harden, but he was ruled out for the season on Monday with a partially torn ACL.

"Spencer Dinwiddie's health did not make or break the Nets' ability to get James Harden," said Zach Lowe on his podcast. "It's unclear to me, frankly, if those teams have had anything resembling a serious conversation about James Harden. Let's make that clear. I don't sense that there's been hardly any traction there at all. And maybe the way the Nets started had them thinking 'Why are we messing with this?'"

The key to Brooklyn potentially trading for Harden has been believed to be centered more on their ability to put a young star from another team in a three-team package.

James Harden added the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics to his list of preferred trade destinations, sources told Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Harden's list initially included the Nets and 76ers, with the Heat and Bucks later added.

The Athletic adds that the Rockets have engaged in trade talks with teams outside of Harden's list, and that the potential for a deal with the Celtics or Blazers is currently unclear. 

Ben Simmons said he's not worried about his name being connected to trade rumors involving James Harden. The Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers have been in touch on a Harden trade with varying reports on the availability of Simmons. 

"No," Simmons said after Tuesday's practice. "I come in every day, take it a day at a time, ready to work. I'm with my teammates. ... Every day I wake up, every time I got a Sixers uniform on, I'm representing the Sixers. So my mentality never changes.

"I'm here to win a championship. That goal is never gonna change. I know things are always going to be said in the media, and rumors and things like that, but my goal is to come in every day and get better and help the team that I'm on win a championship."

The 76ers are excited for their supporting cast around Simmons and Joel Embiid.

The Houston Rockets may be targeting specific players they want to acquire in a James Harden trade as much as they are looking to send him to a specific trade, which puts

"There's been a lot of rumors, and I think they're true, that Houston in the Harden stuff is targeting... I think they're targeting more players than teams. One of the players that's on their list to target is Michael Porter Jr."

According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, the Rockets' interest in a trade with the Nuggets "centered firmly" on Porter.

The Nuggets were one of numerous teams to call the Rockets with interest in a trade for Harden, but sources tell Singer that those talks haven't gained any traction.

Media reports have consistently indicated the Nuggets consider Porter to be untouchable in trade talks.

There have been signs of tension between James Harden and the Houston Rockets during the past few days as he continues to seek a trade.

Harden has had multiple verbal confrontations with teammates in practice on Sunday and Monday, sources tell The Athletic. Harden even thew a basketball at a teammate on Monday.

Harden and rookie Jae’Sean Tate had a heated exchange during Monday’s practice, culminating in Harden throwing the ball in Tate’s direction.

Harden has typically been a calm presence, causing some within the franchise to view this as rising to an uncharacteristic level of frustration. 

Harden has been engaged and encouraging of teammates on game nights.

The Minnesota Timberwolves pursued a trade for Aaron Gordon this offseason, league sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The Wolves are thin at power forward with Juan Hernangomez and Jake Layman on the depth chart. Minnesota, however, is deep on the perimeter with D'Angelo Russell, Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards, Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie and Malik Beasley.

Gordon has two seasons remaining on his contract at $18.1 million and down to $16.4 million in 21-22. Gordon's long-term future with the Orlando Magic has been uncertain due to Jonathan Isaac.