The Houston Rockets are increasingly expending trade discussions of James Harden beyond his preferred destinations of the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Miami Heat have also been mentioned as a potential trade destination for Harden.

The Rockets have communicated those talks with Harden.

Several teams are feeling less inhibited about trading for Harden without an assurance he can become a free agent in two years.

The 76ers have signaled a willingness to include Ben Simmons in a trade for Harden, but those talks have come nowhere close to a deal.

The Nets, meanwhile, are limited by the Rockets lack of interest in their personnel and would need a third team to emerge.