Word leaked last month that the Sixers had taken James Harden off the trade market taken James Harden off the trade market, but it was actually the Clippers that shut down talks between the teams, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the latest edition of his “Hoop Collective” podcast (hat tip to Clippers Fan Nation).
“(The Clippers) tried to trade for James Harden, and that deal didn’t happen,” Windhorst said. “And from what I understand, it was the Clippers who said, ‘Okay, there’s no deal here. We’re gonna move on.’ And while I assume that they could certainly make a deal midseason, I assume that this is what they’re gonna go with.”
L.A. was Harden’s preferred destination when he asked to be traded in late June after his surprise decision to pick up his $35.6MM player option for next season. With the Clippers not pursuing a deal, at least for the time being, there was no viable market for Harden and the Sixers stopped trying to create one.
That decision led to an angry outburst from Harden during an appearance in China, where he called president of basketball operations Daryl Morey “a liar” and blasted team management for the way it has dealt with him over the past two years. Harden also vowed that he will never be part of an organization run by Morey, a statement that will be tested when training camp opens in two weeks.
He received a $100K fine for those comments and the NBA launched an investigation of whether there had been a handshake deal in place when Harden took a pay cut a year ago. However, the league found no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Sixers.
Although Morey shopped Harden around the league, he reportedly set the asking price so high that other teams weren’t willing to meet it, a tactic he also used when Ben Simmons asked to be dealt two years ago. According to multiple reports, the Clippers were unwilling to part with young guard Terance Mann or their best draft assets in a proposed deal.
While the Sixers wait to see if Harden will continue to try to force his way out of Philadelphia, the Clippers appear satisfied with their current roster going into camp. Windhorst doesn’t expect L.A. to pursue any more trades until the season is underway.
Result
How much money did Ben Simmons lose because of missing games?
He was traded at the mid season, and he got $20 million back?
Harden is Simmons 2.0
Clippers chances of winning a title this year just went wayyyy up
Whatchu talking about? PG and Khawai still have to play mote than 20 games. Harden would have played at least 40.
I’ve always put James Harden and Westbrook in the same category. Stat stuffers but not winners. Boy was I wrong. Harden is in a class of his own! He is the most unlikeable player in history. Fun to watch and an amazing offensive player. But man is he a puke of a person. He only tries when he feels like it. Westbrook is getting old but his entire career the man goes 110% and I have to respect that. Now he accepts a bargain of a contract realizing he needs to do that to be a part of a contender. James harden would play in Cuba if the money was right and wouldn’t take a dime less than the max to play on the ‘98 Bulls. It will be a sad day when Westbrook retires and a celebration when harden is finally gone!
Most NBA players (and pro athletes) don’t care that much about winning rings. That dynamic (prioritizing a “winning team”) is nearly all in fans’ heads, put there by relentless marketing by leagues and their enablers in the media, knowing that their whole business model depends on it. It’s also mostly an American only phenomenon. Players obviously prefer to win, and in the moment of a game are competitive, but when the game is over and they’re thinking about their careers, winning is WAY down the list. Their priorities are the same as any of us in our jobs.
Get that money! I agree and I enjoy seeing these guys getting generational wealth! I actually find it disrespectful when people say players should take less money lol. Only in sports is it frowned upon to
take the most money someone is willing to give you. Everyone should fight to get as much money as they see they deserve. I laugh when I saw Kwame Brown talk about being labeled one of the biggest busts in history. 10 plus years in the nba and 60 million in earnings call me whatever you want.
At this point Harden is not worth as much as he thinks he is. And he is the only one who does not see it. He puts on the act that he wants to win is what drives me crazy and will burn every bridge in his way. I congratulate him knowing all he can provide for his family.
I guarantee his name will pop up in ten years for feeling “disrespected” when he isn’t mentioned with the greats. He thinks he is Durant, Curry, or Lebron and can’t get over the fact no one else thinks he is. Ego drives us all but his has become his ultimate downfall and a lot of people will forget him when he is done playing.
It’s only about that money. Only reason they play basketball
Hes not even close to fun to watch, in fact it was brutal watching him in his prime when he was manipulating the rules to draw fouls, unwatchable garvage.
Whether you like Westbrook or not he plays hard. He never takes a play off.
I’d argue he’s also not even fun to watch lol his style is boring af. Took a special collaboration between him and kyrie the two losers to screw up my Nets
Yeah because the Nets have never screwed up their roster ever. Those dip sticks are the reason the Celtics have been so good for so long, them and Philly giving up a first to guarantee Markele Fultz when the Cs were taking Tatum no matter what.
Harden to the clippers would be good for everyone. They could offer Covington, Powell with picks. Or void his contract if possible and let him sign somewhere for the vets minimum. He would be happy about that
As a clippers Always believed clippers were like take Norman Powell , Marcus Morris and Robert covington ! Take it or leave it ! That package is factually terrible so sixers rightfully Said no way Bc it sucks and the clippers where like cool no deal to be made here
Morey is a very bad GM. Its the sixers fault for hiring him in the first place. Harden is a bad contract right now so trade him even if it means only a draft pick back and expiring contracts. Instead Morey thinks he is worth good young players. The ending will not go well
Especially when Harden starts to really retaliate against Morey by eating chicken wings until his pants burst.
Insightful
I don’t see where Morey is a bad GM
This had train wreck written all over it the moment Harden got traded to the 76ers..
Morey mischaracterizing trade discussions (or the lack of them) is nothing new; it’s basically the rule with him. That approach did NOT work with Simmons; he ended up getting Harden for Simmons because Harden intentionally destroyed his own trade value, and BKN’s owner didn’t have the stomach to call him out. But for those circumstances, Morey would have been exposed or Simmons would still be there.
Morey is the definition of a guy who knows numbers, but also thinks numbers are all there is to basketball. No understanding of the actual techniques or people involved, with zero emotional intelligence. Numbers can illustrate or enlighten, but they aren’t the be-all-end-all. That Morey doesn’t get that is unsurprising.
Ty Dr Freud.
Let’s not forget draft night when they drafted Mikail Bridges, who was from PA and went to Villanova. Then traded him for I believe Zhaire Smith and a 2021 1st round pick.
That was well before Morey came to the team.
He also never sees the mistakes he makes. He could have avoided this mess by trading Harden as soon as Harden wanted to go. Morey insisted on a very high price for Harden. Can’t blame Harden since Morey did lie to him about a extension when he took a pay cut for Morey.
DeAnthony Melton is an upgrade defensively over Harden. Is it really a bad thing for Maxey and Tobias Harris to get more shots. Harris is in a contract year.
Moving on from Harden is easy for the Clippers. They never wanted or needed Harden. They got thrown into the mix because one of the few friends Harden has in the league in Paul George. Philly players are not going to have anything negative to say because you don’t speak on another man’s contract (money).
Lol brutally ignorant comment based in your imagination.
I liked Harden back with Thunder him and Westbrook. Then when came to Rockets. Then we had CP3. Then it was Harden wanted Westbrook. I really did not like that. But when Houston hired Silas it all broke loose. Morey was gone and Harden and Westbrook wanted out. I felt for Silas but for someone who had been an assistant for years was not sure if could do things even with both still with team. But since then I lost a lot of respect for Morey, Harden and Westbrook. So Silas and Rockets tank for 3 seasons and work the draft. I am not sure on Stone GM of Rockets. But Harden going to Brooklyn and former Rockets coach there. Then after a season wants to go to Sixers. Now a couple years after wants to go to Clippers. But I will be surprised if Harden comes to camp. I think with Nurse at helm now not sure there. This might create issues if this lingers. If Harden had not opted in maybe things different. Now I do not put Lillard in same category. He wants something for remainder of his time and feels will not get it in Portland. Will he be with team in a couple weeks.
Sixers are better off playing with harden anyway but if harden doesn’t want to play hard then I have no problem seeing him come off the bench and let the rest of the team play for a championship, ps the clippers don’t have enough Cap space to sign harden as a free agent in fact actually trading for him now would be the only way for the clippers to get a top notch free agent and resign P.G and T. L and keep harden happy
Sixer GM is a counter. Doesn’t know what real talent looks like.
I think Morey actually rode off tue back of a good team that counted for him…
He’s made a lot of moves that the maths never added up for since moving to the 76ers..
Including trading for Harden…