Report: Kings pull out of Simmons trade talks with 76ers

The Sacramento Kings are out of the Ben Simmons sweepstakes.

Sacramento has called off trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers after previously being one of the most aggressive teams in negotiations, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Kings reportedly refuse to meet the high asking price set by the 76ers and don't believe a deal can be reached before the trade deadline on Feb. 10. They will instead focus on other proposals, according to Wojnarowski.

Philadelphia reportedly thinks there are other possible options to offload the 25-year-old before the deadline.

76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has ostensibly explored several avenues to trade Simmons, who refuses to play for the team and will reportedly continue to sit out the rest of the season if he isn't sent elsewhere within the next two weeks.

One supposed offer floated by Philadelphia to Sacramento included swapping Simmons for fifth-year point guard De'Aaron Fox. However, the Kings reportedly informed Fox's representatives that they plan to build around the 24-year-old and backcourt partner Tyrese Haliburton.

Another reported target for Morey is Brooklyn Nets superstar James Harden, with the 76ers executive willing to wait until next summer in order to try to tempt the Nets with a package centered around Simmons.

Harden owns a $47.3-million player option for next season but is likely to decline it in order to secure more guaranteed money over a longer term. The Nets have already reportedly ruled out trading the nine-time All-Star before the February deadline.