Sixers guard James Harden missed practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday, a source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
A team spokesperson said Harden is “away from the team due to a personal matter,” tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.
Harden has reportedly been in Houston since Philadelphia’s practice on Sunday and is frustrated that he hasn’t been traded to the Clippers. The former league MVP requested a trade to Los Angeles after picking up his $35.6MM player option this summer.
Harden told reporters last week that he didn’t see a path to reconciliation with Philadelphia. He previously called president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar” and that he would “never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
Sam Amick of The Athletic reported yesterday evening that the Clippers and Sixers remain at an impasse in trade talks, despite more conversations in recent days. L.A. doesn’t want to bid against itself and has been unwilling to include Terance Mann in a deal, according to Amick.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that even though Harden has been professional when he’s been around the team, he hasn’t attended any of the 76ers’ preseason games, skipped at least one shootaround, and has only participated in one five-on-five scrimmage (on October 7) since rejoining the club. The 34-year-old was also absent for media day at the beginning of the month and missed the first day of training camp as well.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN noted on Wednesday (Twitter link), the fine for missing a practice is modest (starting at $2,500), but if Harden skips a game without the team’s consent, he could face fines of $389K per contest. It’s unclear if the missed practices the past couple days will be excused by the Sixers now that the team is saying Harden is attending to a personal matter.
For example, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN stated on Wednesday (video link) that Harden’s absence is the latest step in his desire to create an uncomfortable situation for the Sixers until he’s traded.
“Somebody close to him told me this is only the beginning of what he plans to do here,” Shelburne said.
Is Harden’s plan to just play the minimum number of games he can get away with and then ball tf out when he gets traded? Because that’s not going to turn out how he hopes it will. Absolutely no one will respect that, unless he somehow returns to MVP form. Front Offices executives included.
Of course, it will also be a giant middle finger to Morey, which might be more important to him.
One thing people don’t seem to realize that his contract situation does not change if he is traded to the Clippers. He cannot be signed or extended until free agency. The Clippers right now are hesitant to give Paul George and Kawhi Leonard 5 year max extensions. Does Harden really think they will give him a big long term deal if they lose in the first or second round? He will then have a repeat of this off-season where no one wants to pay him big money or term. In fact being a distraction for the third straight team if he continues this then teams will have even less interest. He is being immature and cutting off his nose to spite his face.
4th straight team
In this case, maybe the FO’s won’t respect it, but I doubt the players on any team but Philly cares… As a past MVP who played well last year, he is in a position to make demands others can’t. I bet there are alot of guys out there hoping he is successful in this bid… not everyone mind you, but I would bet there are more who support his actions than not.
It’s more that no one is going to overpay for him like he wants. He’s got the talent, and nobody will deny that. But he’s old, injury prone, and has caused each of his three teams a headache when things started going sour.
Players aren’t the ones cutting checks, after all.
Harden is a child
Eating cheeseburgers at the club with Zion.
Easy Veteran minimum 2024. Yes he’s great when committed but not worth any sort of drama.
We talking about practice?
Not the game but practice
Harden. seems like a huge pain in the ass to deal with. the NBA needs to set an example with players forcing their way out to teams they want to be on. Philadelphia should let him sit out the rest of the year and not trade him and the rest of the NBA shouldn’t attempt to trade for him and others like him. let these types of players throw their little fit and no one trade or sign for them. they can skip practice and games and not play that year or ever again. their careers would be over then and this nonsense would stop. their like spoiled, bratty children.
Chamberlain is the first well documented case of a player forcing a trade to a preferred destination but I’m sure others did it behind closed doors before he did. A few other examples over the years would be Kareem forcing his way out of Milwaukee. He didn’t get to his number one option but the Lakers were second on his list. More recently Drexler asked to be traded to his hometown Houston Rockets so he could play for a contender before he retired. Hell Kobe hadn’t played a single minute in the league when his agent told teams he wouldn’t play for them if they drafted him. I could go on and on, heck I can think of at least 30 situations where players did exactly what Harden is doing.
So, after all these years you want the league to make an example out of Harden? Why Harden? Is it because of the way sports media portrays him? He’s not acting like a spoiled or bratty child, he’s just trying to take control of his own destiny.
Sure lots of people put up with crappy situations in their day to day jobs for financial security but he doesn’t have too as he’s already earned a couple hundred million over his career. His good friend and boss lied to him, he’s not happy in his current situation but he can’t just quit and continue to do his job elsewhere,he has a contract. His only recourse is to make things uncomfortable to the point that they trade him.
I always wondered by Charlotte drafted him, then traded him for basically a vet on the downslide and a bag of balls. Maybe they just wanted to get something for drafting him. Guys being like that in baseball has costed them lots of money. I won’t sign with so and so and no one else drafts them till 4 rounds later and they get squat for a slot value.
Harden is by far the least accomplished of the players that you mentioned. And he is no longer a star level player at all, otherwise there would be multiple suitors. Oh and one other major difference is he opted in to a player option and then immediately demanded a trade, which of the players you mentioned did that?
I’m fine with sitting him for the year, rather than the proposed trades I see floated around. I think we are still a top 3-4 team in the East without him, and Morris, Covington and Batum don’t increase our odds at all. So if he isn’t willing to play or be a part of the team, then I am cool with sitting him. If he can find a team that wants him next year we could have the sign and trade leverage rather than the clippers or we can just move on in 24 without him, and the 50+ mil in cap space that we will have. But I ain’t trading him for garbage, and I’m glad Morey isn’t either
I am a C’s fan, but homestly I don’t think the 76ers will be any less formidable letting Harden just rot. Still a top 4 seed and only as good as Embiids health once you get to the playoffs.
You know who didn’t miss practice today? Terance Mann.
“A team spokesperson said Harden is “away from the team due to a personal matter…”
Yes, personally, he didn’t feel like practicing…
James Harden is creating himself zero trade value and zero value for any team interested in trading/signing for him. He wants to play for the Clippers or Rockets but neither of those teams want him. The Rockets especially remember how he left 3 seasons ago. The Clippers don’t want him given what they have reportedly offered. No team should offer him a max contract next summer. Veterans minimum. Not like he needs the money anyway. Team up with LeBron so LeBron can demand that management trade him because he’s not a team player.
I disagree. Harden is still a very good player, but not a Superstar any more. That ship sailed a few years ago now.
We talking bout PRACTICE
Harden misses practice ……. but not his daily workout !!!!!!!!
link to firstsportz.com
Back That Up ……….
I’m going LA ……..
Harden is running g away again !!!!
link to images.app.goo.gl