Ben Simmons talks are heating up with less than a month to go before the NBA trade deadline, at least in the sense that there are talks again, but they’re not heating up like anywhere near boiling, or even hot.

Recently, the 76ers held “exploratory” talks with the Sacramento Kings, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. The Kings have changed their stance since the summer and would include De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton in a deal.

The Philadelphia 76ers sounded out the prospect of a Fox-Ben Simmons trade package just days ago, but the dialogue remains an exploratory due diligence, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Fox’s game has taken a step back this season — 21 points and 5.1 assists per game, but shooting 25% from three and with a below-average 53.7 true shooting percentage — and he doesn’t. didn’t look like an All-Star player, which Daryl Morey and the 76ers demand in return to trade Simmons. Halliburton knows how to handle the pick-and-roll and looks like a veteran, quality NBA starter or rotation player in just his second season. However, its ceiling is not considered to be much higher than that.

Although a straight trade for Simmons won’t happen, the Kings could be the third team in a larger deal with Simmons, the one facing Tobias Harris, reports Marc Stein (you need to subscribe to his newsletter).

More than one rival team believe Sacramento, in its desire for a meaningful shakeup as it heads to a record 16th straight season outside the playoffs, could be convinced to accept Tobias Harris’ contract to facilitate a deal with Simons. If the Sixers can’t get the high-flying player they covet, it might be too tempting to resist rather than hold. for one star in return.

Look for a deal like this to also include Oklahoma City, the only team with cap space (over $24 million and the ability to create more) that can absorb a contract rather than just trade winning players roughly the same money.

Joel Embiid is now tossing the party line, that these 76ers are good enough and don’t need a bold move to win. However, it’s hard to imagine these 76ers beating a healthy Nets or Bucks team — or maybe even a Heat team — in a seven-game playoff series. They need more, and league sources told NBC Sports they can’t believe Morey wants to “waste” a prime season for Embiid.

However, the 76ers can do just that, waiting for a perfect – or at least very good – deal to be reached. The 76ers have been looking for that ideal trade since last offseason, and here we are in exactly the same place. We are still waiting.