While James Harden has been on his best behavior when he has been present at practices for the Sixers during training camp and the preseason, he hasn’t exactly been a full participant this fall, Shams Charania said on Stadium’s NBA season preview show (Twitter video link).
According to Charania, Harden has taken part in just one five-on-five scrimmage this month, back on October 7. The former MVP also hasn’t been in attendance for any of the 76ers’ three preseason games and has skipped at least one shootaround.
The Clippers and Sixers have talked more about Harden in the last week, according to Charania, but there’s still no deal imminent between the two teams.
Here are a few more Sixers notes:
- Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports also checked in on the Harden saga, citing league sources who say that Daryl Morey wants a second first-round pick (in addition to a pick swap and expiring contracts) for Harden. While Fischer doesn’t state it explicitly, it sounds like Philadelphia would want both of those first-round picks to be unprotected. The Clippers haven’t shown a willingness thus far to include more than one first-rounder in their offer for Harden.
- According to Fischer, the Clippers value their 2028 first-round pick pretty highly, since Kawhi Leonard‘s and Paul George‘s futures in Los Angeles aren’t locked in, so there’s no guarantee that pick won’t be a high one. They’ve looked around to see if they’d be able to get two first-rounders from another team in exchange for that lone 2028 pick in order to satisfy Philadelphia’s asking price, Fischer says, but that seems like a long shot.
- Fischer suggests one reason Harden has been so professional in his return following a brief holdout is a belief that the gap between the Sixers and Clippers isn’t significant and that the two teams will be able to work something out. It’s unclear whether or not there’s an “undetermined deadline” when Harden might get impatient and start trying to force the issue more proactively, Fischer adds.
- Tyrese Maxey understands “the business aspect” of the Sixers deciding to hold off on a rookie scale extension and isn’t concerned about reaching restricted free agency next July, he tells Fischer. Philadelphia is putting off Maxey’s next deal in order to maximize its 2024 cap room. “I just look at it as I’m gonna go out there and still play,” Maxey said. “I’m still on the 76ers. I love it here and I want to help us win. And at the end of the day, that’s my contract and that’s what I’ll fulfill. I love Philly. And we’ll see what happens.”
- In a conversation with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Sixers forward Tobias Harris spoke about how he’ll fit into Nick Nurse‘s system, his mindset entering a contract year, and his expectations for the team this season, among other topics.
Please just fire Morey Philly, what a clown.
Appears to be more than one clown with Sixers organization
Yes! Iuapnor I agree with you please let’s fire Daryl Morey and bring in someone like Bob Myers former Golden state warriors GM.
So when the Clippers figure out that their unprotected draft picks can get them someone else, what does the Sixers do then?
Morey might be the worst GM since, that Coleangelo guy who traded Jason Tatum and a pick for a guy who cannot shoot.
The Clippers’ players want him, so it’s all about how can this become a win-win. There’s no reason for the Clippers to overpay, since harden has ruined any chance to remain a Sixer.
Please just tell Harden to go jump in a lake m. Must be hard to do nothing and earn $35 million. One of biggest jerks in the history of sports yet weak NBA teams still kiss his butt. Thank you Morey for standing up to this moron
Dude’s all number and analytics. He has no concept of human emotion and one of the biggest jerks in the history of front office execs, yet a weak NBA team gave him another shot. Thank you Harden for standing to that moron. Hopefully it won’t cast him another $30 million to make his point.
If the Clippers can get a FRP in return for Powell, then this trade has legs. Bertans could be that move?
In an ideal world the Sixers dump PJ Tucker along with Harden and clear up more cap space next year. And they move Korkmaz and House as well for the roster crunch. They take back only 3 players.
Are the Clippers the only game in town? Idk, I think the Heat will eventually emerge. Lowry + 2 FRP for Harden could get it done. Will the Heat go there? Idk, how many 0-9 point games can they take from Lowry?
Will someone get injured and Harden looks pretty good?
Does the CP3 experiment fall flat? Would need to include Kuminga tho, or multiple cheaper players.
Not much they can do at this point. I think hes ultimately a Sixer into the season.
If Harden wanted out of Philly so bad, he shouldn’t have opted in to his contract. The thing is, he wanted the higher money ceiling AND Philly to accommodate him out the door. He had a path out and he didn’t take it, now he’s taken his ball home because he’s grumpy.
Yes, because giving up on 10% of one’s career earnings is something you just do. I get people being pissed about his decisions, but acting like opting out was even on the table is baffling.
“But he’s so rich!” Yeah, and even then 30+ million is a big deal.
When you have millions and a sports brand it’s easy to make far more than what he’d give up…
It’s why so many are happy to take the vet minimum to ring chase…
Oh wait it’s James Harden here… He’s thrown away that chance by not sticking to what is in his contract… No business wants someone like that…
That’s my point though – he wanted out, but he wanted the money more. Now, he’s got the money, but he’s upset that he can’t get out – even though he had the opportunity to get out already. And apparently the front office is to blame, according to Harden.
He had a choice, he made his choice, and that isn’t on anyone else.
Harden sulked his way out of Houston, sulked his way out of Brooklyn, and now he’s trying to sulk his way out of Philly – yet for some reason, there are fans who still back him up.
I love this. So now that he isn’t causing a scene the writers switch to this whole nonsense of “he isn’t fully invested either.” Who is going to be the first writer to call it quiet quitting?
Abandoning his team the week before the season starts is not “causing a scene”? Interesting standards.
Well, Harden wanted to retire a Sixer…as long as they gave him a four year max, built a statue in front of the arena in his honour, and retired his number while he was still playing!
The reason he opted in is simple. It wasn’t so that him and the Sixers could work out a longer term deal, it’s that no team that had cap space was willing to offer him $35M for the upcoming season. And anyone that mentions Houston, all that bluster came from Harden himself, not the Rockets.
The sad thing is Philly will eventually have to pull the trigger or risk having Embiid ask out. I love the sport, but I’m starting to get tired of the NBA. What’s next, players not only demand a trade, but also who they’re traded for? I’m not defending the teams either, and I have no doubt that Morey at least hinted at something more for Harden last year when he asked him to take a pay cut. I’m just worn out by all of this.
Players have been asking for trades including their preferred destination for over 50 years.
Harden just continues to shoot himself in the foot…
The Clippers arent going to overpay for him and Morey has his price far too high to come down to a reasonable trade…
Should of just opted out and chose his next team… It’d be far better for his brand image…
If they’re going to do the trade then it should be:
76ers trade: Harden, House
Clippers trade: Covington, Morris Sr., & Mann plus a first.
76ers need to just get the deal done, and get rid of the indecisive, biga$$ baby.
Sixers need to clear PJ Tuckers salary next season. Not House’s.
House’s salary is what originally worked perfectly in the trade machine, but I’m sure they could swap Tucker instead and just move some parts around to make it work..