A standoff between the Sixers and James Harden appears imminent after the team’s decision to take him off the trade market. A source close to Harden tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that the star guard is locked into his stance about not wanting to play in Philadelphia anymore and doesn’t plan to report to training camp if he’s still with the club.
A Sixers source confirmed to Amick that the organization has stopped trying to work out a trade involving Harden. There were some discussions earlier this summer with the Clippers, who are Harden’s preferred destination, but Amick states that they clearly weren’t productive.
Amick reported last month that executives from other teams were skeptical that Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was making an honest effort to find a taker for Harden. Morey reportedly asked for a huge return from the teams he discussed Harden with, much as he did with Ben Simmons in the summer of 2021. In a radio interview last month, Morey said he was looking for a top-level player in return for Harden or enough assets to get one from another team.
Harden, who will turn 34 later this month, was counting on one more big contract and was hoping to create a bidding war between the Sixers and Rockets in free agency. Houston decided to target other free agents after hiring Ime Udoka as its head coach, leaving Harden without another bidder to drive up his price.
Unable to get an offer to his liking from Morey, Harden surprisingly decided to forgo free agency and pick up his $35.6MM option for next season. That move came with a trade request, as Harden made it clear that he was unhappy with Sixers management.
Training camp is still seven weeks away, so there’s still time for the situation to be resolved. However, even if Harden relents and shows up at camp, there could be plenty of awkward moments. Amick notes that Harden had “staring contests” with both the Rockets and Nets when he decided he no longer wanted to be with those teams. Harden went on a “party tour” in Las Vegas and Atlanta before reporting to Houston’s training camp in 2020, Amick adds, and he refused to back down on his trade request with either team.
For all the drama surrounding his frequent change of teams in recent years, Harden remains a productive player. He led the league in assists last season with 10.7 per game, along with 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, while shooting 38.5% from three-point range. The Sixers reportedly believe they have a chance to win a title with Harden and are unwilling to throw away that chance just to get Harden off their roster.
Harden is in the final year of his contract, which may be limiting his trade value, so no matter how the situation with the Sixers plays out, he will be on the free agent market next summer.
Why didn’t he just opt out? Is $35 million that important to a guy who has made hundreds of millions? Weird situation.
Not arguing… just a question:
If you were fortunate enough to have made James Harden money – and maybe you have! – would you be comfortable taking a large Adidas duffel bag (navy blue and white) filled with $35 million in cash and driving on the freeway and toss the bag out the window?
Nice breaking bad reference
Why didn’t 76ers make sure that Harden wants to play for them before the team’s decision to take him off the trade market?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Its more like is another 250M worth it since he obviously wants the long deal somewhere. If he choses to leave without his bird rights and sign for say the MLE then the team he signs with cant even give him a big deal for 3 seasons. He has to get his bird rights to a team that wants to pay him thats why this is hard.
Is PHI his least complicated way to be on a winner? Yes. He feels like there was some sort of hand shake under the table deal that he would get the contract he was looking for if he opted out and took less. They wont give him a blank check. I dont know how much was actually informally agreed to but if it was a real deal then I get why hes pissed.
Doesnt change the fact he is an absolute chore to watch play basketball…
He’s not getting 250M but you’re spot on about bird rights. It’s possible that clippers may offer him something substantial, and he KNOWS that philly isn’t giving him the years he wants. And maybe he’s delusional enough to think the full max would be on the table. Also agree that spite is a significant motivating factor.
Opting in was his best chance to go where he wants. Only via trade can he get there or any of his top choices.
True, but that it comes with its own risks, and the Sixers don’t seem inclined to do his bidding.
If he opted out, he could have gone wherever he wanted, just likely for significantly less money…
If it was that important to him though, then you have to make sacrifices.
Harden was just being greedy, and now he thinks he can whine and sit out to get what he wants.
If I’m the 76ers I say they set an example. At this point, you cannot even trust he would guve you his full effort if you play him, so in the mean time I wouldn’t pay him for missed games, and then when he ultimately comes back, I would fine him and suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team, refusing to pay his contract.
Let him sit out the year, he ain’t got very many left, and he sure as heck isn’t going to get some big deal from anyone after sitting out an entire season.
I highly doubt any team would do that, solely because of the bad optics, but I’m just personally tired of Harden’s whining and complaining. He’s a malcontent, and doesn’t even deserve another big deal.
If he wanted a bigger deal and an extension, HE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED BETTER, and not choked in the playoffs when the team needed him the most.
show, NBA is better without him.
Opting in was his only chance to get to a desirable team. There are no competitive teams who could sign him outright. Has to be a trade, and as an expiring contract attached to a still good player, he should have some value. Or so he thought. The opt in decision was a no brainer after Philly refused to extend him.
Simple answer… Yes, $35M is that important to everyone, regardless of how much you have made.
But he opted out of $47.3 million in 2022.
He couldn’t opt out because he had no market for his services that could bring back the deal he wanted.
Not a weird situation. James Harden is the one who is weird. Pretty much put himself out of the league. He is not ready to take a lessor role, or pay. He is washed as a player.
Philly is the only contender willing to give him his current role, at his current price. No coming back for Harden with the Philly fans.
Good Riddance!
Washed as a player ? The article even included his stats 10+ assist which led the league 21 pts per game. If that’s washed up 99% of the league is washed up
He trust Morey many years. It’s all about trust.
76ers need to use the trust as the solution. You can’t just talk.
As a clippers fan I’m gonna be objective! There’s no deal the sixers should consider with the clippers unless they get both clippers first they have to trade unprotected! Clippers shouldn’t do that so both sides should give up move on and revisit it at the deadline if they want
The real problem with the clips is they have players for salary matching that the 6ers dont really want, but thats all they have some mediocre overpaid dudes. Like you want me to take back Morris’s contract and RoCo and Powell you will have to give me firsts to eat those 3 into cap space. Those arent assets theyre filler as a group with Powell being the least useless basketball wise, but also having the most money and years.
If a package of norm , Morris and roco had any value they would easily be able to loop in a 3rd team and Harfen would be a clipper but of course that package sucks so the stalemate continues
I would say 2 firsts, and no Powell…not sure I would accept 1 first (lightly protected) unless PJ was included.
Wow. Never saw this coming when Sixers brought him on board! (sarcasm)
No kidding.
Philly’s window is officially closed.
I’ve been saying that all offseason. What we saw in the Boston series pretty much sums up this team. 2 “top” players who quit. Blow it up
I don’t think anyone is going to give up what the 76ers want in return. He’s not in the same field as Durant.. the guy is a cancer to his team. What Philly really wants is to recoup some of the assets they gave up to get him. They aren’t just going to trade him because he doesn’t want to play there. They might go the same route as Ben Simmons if he holds out and not pay him.
I hope they don’t pay him. Players have gotten ridiculous
Idk who blinks first. Each has something to lose by continuing to hold out. Harden gets older by another year while driving down his salary while the Sixers watch their championship window get emensly smaller by having Harden waste salary cap and a roster spot for a year and then leave with no assets. Its in both their best interests to just ride it out this year together and see what happens.
I don’t see how this is a good move by Harden and his team.
Your 34 on an expiring deal and yourve got a reputation amongst the league for being a diva and forcing your way out of places. Like why did you opt in if you don’t want to be here. No one values you as much as you think your worth and the Sixers even tried to work with you and send you to where you wanted but it didn’t work.
Considering the fact your old and on an expiring deal, how does holding out and not playing help you. If anything teams just think even less of you, and when it comes to your next deal you’ll be lucky to get more than a 1 year offer and for much less than your wanting. If you really wanted to go to the clippers then you should’ve spoken to them in FA and tried to get a 1 year vets min deal.
Someone in his camp must know all this and they just plan on holding out for training camp and will return for the regular season.
If I’m the Sixers I’m trying not rushing into anything but I’m definitely listening to all offers and looking to just cut pff the dead weight.
As I said on the other piece, alternative Harden deals possibly …
1. Harden for Dlo and Reaves?
Lakers create a big 3 once again, Sixers bank on Reaves and Dlo can just get sent to a third team.
2. Harden and Tucker for Hayward, Bridges and Martin?
Hornets could really do with these two guy’s experience and would make them a much more competitive side. Hayward for Hardean, swapping expiring deals, Tucker for Martin is a great salary dump and then give up bridges as a sweetener and don’t have to bother with extension talks.
For the Sixers, I’d love to see Harris back at the 4 with Hayward the 3, with Maxey we’d have 4 really good scoring options with MVP Embiid.
Bridges on the bench would be a sixth man of the year candidate and worth resigning with Haywards expiring money. He’d be a great long term fit with Maxey and Embiid.
3. Harden and Tucker for Lowry, Herro and a first
Selling low here if Miami give up on Dame.
Harden gives them a third star to go into the backcourt. Tucker also returns which is huge. Kyle Lowry originally born in Philly plays for him home team and we bank on Tyler Herro and a first. Herro and Maxey as a backcourt pairing to develop maybe?
Lakers want no part of Harden
Who does?
Sixers want no part of Dlo
Hornets fan take: Hard pass, unless Philadelphia tossed in a 1st round pick. It could be heavily lottery protected, but that trade needs something else.
Hayward is more valuable than Harden on a young team, imo, because he isn’t toxic. Even if you call that a wash, the trade is essentially Tucker for Bridges and Martin. I’d be fine giving Bridges away as a fan, but a pro GM isn’t going to do that. And I’d argue Martin, being younger and cheaper, has more value than Tucker alone.
That said, I know Philly isn’t dealing a pick to accommodate Harden, nor should they.
In other news, the Earth is round (sorry, Kyrie)!
like a plate?
As I mentioned before these guys want their cake and eat it too. They want to get paid yet they want to leave the team and play elsewhere. So sickening.
He could have easily opted out but he wanted the money. Okay then you signed you play in Philly that’s all there is to it. You can’t force them to trade you but you probably can make life miserable for everyone and that’s just bush league.
If he wanted to play elsewhere so bad it was an easy opt out. So disappointing.
If I was the Sixers, I would tell Harden to give them more teams than just the Clippers because they aren’t trading him there (because the offers stink). So, he can give them more teams, play for the Sixers or rot at home. Harden could have avoided this if he just would’ve opted out.
Said it before and will say it again. Dame and Bam to Philly. Embiid and Harden to Miami. Robinson, Lowry, Jovic, Jaquez, and lotsa picks to PDX. Tinker with more players/picks/teams as needed.
Miami doesn’t want Embiid and Harden.
Pull it together
I can see not wanting Harden, but why not Embiid? Reunite him with Butler? A starting five of Embiid, Love, Butler, Herro, and Harden is pretty damn good and strikes me as something Riley would love and Spo could do a lot of damage with. Doesn’t fix Miami’s bench but that’s a mess either way.
Embiid is hot garbage. Overrated ASF.
By what metric(s), exactly?
BLinn.., winning.
Skill wise he’s the best big man in the world or top two. Tremendous player.
Yup.
Miami doesn’t want primadonna’s. They’d rather work with undrafted character hungry guys they can mold into what they want. And they’re not giving up Bam, he’s a perfect example of a great player who fits the mold.
You’re not going to work on the mind and attitude and character of a guy or guys who’ve been in the league 10 years and have made all-star teams etc. They are who they are and rightfully so because they’re great players. But not the type of guys Miami would want.
Side note, this is why Christian Wood is not going to Miami in any case at all.
Jimmy Butler was in the league for 8 (?) years and made all-star teams and was a malcontent of sorts in MIN and PHI (not that I blame him for being annoyed in either spot) and then went to MIA and has been great. Right?
Butler was a “malcontent” because he didn’t like it when his teammates didn’t play hard.
Embiid gets hurt every year and eats lots of ice cream.
If im the gm of course i will not offer him a long term deal anymore considering he’s already 34 yo… unless you’re leburn or mj.
Or Curry 35 :)
The league needs to get involved and end this impasse
Doubt they will. Unless the Heat shockingly become interested in Harden, then they will.
Adam Silver is a free market guy, I think and he wants stars to stick around with a team for a few years
This is one is just a strange situation
Fines should be bigger than just pay cuts on a contract paying a player 10s of millions on that contracts 1 season alone. They aren’t ever going to work for someone that’s already made hundreds of millions over their career. NBA has a serious problem with adult children that pout and get what they want all the time still. Ben Simmons got fined for sitting out, but he’d already made 10s of millions in his career and Philly got lucky harden wanted traded there and got Brooklyn to take him for some reason.
You must not understand basic economics. 10s of millions is 10s of millions, regardless of how many hundreds of million one has made. That’s like saying you don’t (or wouldn’t) care about 10s of thousand dollars down the drain because you made over 100k in your life. Of course you would lol.
I wouldn’t pout like a baby and not show up to work either. So I don’t personally understand these rich pouting episodes. I earn my money and I wish the rich would at least attempt to do the same. If I tried to sit out and not make my $ I would be replaced not fined. So it isn’t really comparable, but I see your attempt and I would go to work still.
So things aren’t working out at your current job, management sucks or whatever? Deal with it and quit pouting! How dare wish to go to another job that pays comparably to your skill set!
Harden is overpaid for his skillset…
Should be happy he swindled that last contract out of Morey…
Regular jobs are very different than the nba. If your a multimillionaire that’s been treated like royalty for your entire career and are still throwing baby fits demanding stuff go your way, then you are the problem.
Taco, you mean like go on the pro tennis circuit? His current job is “NBA player.”
No play, no pay.
You would think. But he’ll be out with strained hamstring or something. Bingo, Paychecks.
I mean go ahead and sit out, you won’t become a FA. I understood Ben Simmons’ situation hes a lil beach, and doesn’t actually want to play basketball. Harden does nothing besides strippers and step backs. I’ve never seen him publicly care about anything else. So it’s a bit shocking he would want to leave 2 teams with a Top-5 running mate. Houston you can understand, their answer was John Wall, like.. that was a tank move.
At the end of the day, he will soft quit. Show up, play like a bum until he is traded. Load manage etc.
I wonder if this will cost him…
After the Lillard situation the NBA really needs to stop just giving these spoilt rich guys slaps on the wrist…
The league is in a tough spot here due to the inherent vagueness of such situations. These are just reports and rumors, unlike what happened with Lillard’s agent when he was made stupid remarks on the record. Where would the league’s consistent red line be? Because without a clear, specific, and fair one, there is no way NBPA would go for it. That’s going to be the biggest hurdle in getting anything with real teeth implemented.
Honestly, teams may just have to factor such possibilities more into their decision-making process when trading for or signing guys like Harden, Simmons, etc: big contracts to selfish, mentally weak players may not be such a good idea.
The NBA can’t do anything about the reports…
But if he doesn’t show up to training camp or games that is a different story…
Even if he fakes an injury, the team can request the NBA get a 2nd opinion on the injury because of these reports…
True. It’ll be interesting to see who blinks first. Here’s to hoping Harden gets what he ultimately deserves.
Harden to Knicks for Barrett, the French dude and two 24’ protected 1st. Who hangs up first?
Whomever you called.
Money has always been more important to Harden. He loves regular season games and big deals. Good for him. Glad he got paid. No rings to show for anything he’s done. Maybe being a good teammate should have been higher on his list.
Harden is destroying his own ability to make the money he wants to make…Sixers have all the power in this situation since if he doesn’t show he doesn’t get paid and his value on the open market drops further. Same if he shows up and dogs it, but he gets paid and hastens the transition to Maxey as the primary, Sixers end up with cap space next year.
Harden is a baby and a bum. These players who fail to honor their contracts (in a league tilted toward rewarding players) should be treated with more disdain than the steroid era baseball players. No Hall of Fame, no honors upon retirement, let them go roll in their piles of unearned money. Bad teammates, selfish man-children.
Game 6 rockets spurs. He is who he is.
Harden to clippers/ Powell/herro to sixers/lillard to heat/picks and salary matching and fee prospects to portland
This seems like another situation where 1 side didn’t completely work through all the variables before jumping to a decision.
Let’s say his opt-in included a conversation where he made his stance perfectly clear, and that it was: trade me, and trade me to the clippers only. Ok, but even without the sixers SAYING it (which I expect they did), he or his agent had to know Philly wasn’t going to take salary filler and random 2nd round picks in return.
So here we are with him demanding a deal anyway, and telling Philly to just take a bunch of nothing so he can be happy..for a couple months before he pulls this again.
Why is this guy relevant. He’s never won a ring and he’s a selfish PoS
Cuz he’s a HOF’er
It’s comical really. PHI can’t complain since they encouraged this type of behavior when he was in BKN, and its the only reason he’s with PHI. Harden can’t complain because he opted in without a deal in place (if a PHI-LAC deal was doable, there’s no reason that it couldn’t have been worked out in advance of his opt-in, and then implemented, e.g., CP3 LAC to HOU). Everyone else can laugh.
I don’t buy that he just won’t show up. He may not understand what a contract is (joining many on this board), but I would think his representatives do.
This why Portland need to stop wasting everyones time and just give Liliard to Miami. Harden and Simmons proved players have all the power in the end because they getting paid regardless whether they play or not.