Following the Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trades, all eyes turned toward James Harden as the next potential star trade before the season. However, Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey won’t rush into any sort of deal involving the star guard, regardless of any potential pushback from Harden, even if that means keeping him into the season.
Mizell writes that Morey isn’t going to be pressured into making a move for the sake of making the trade despite other Eastern Conference rivals adding big pieces like Lillard and Holiday. Morey and the Sixers took a similar approach with Ben Simmons two years ago, holding him all the way until the trade deadline so that they could find the most suitable deal.
While outsiders in Philly are antsy to move on from the 10-time All-Star, Mizell writes that the belief inside the organization is that a move to make a trade now, even if it would end any potential distraction, is too reckless to justify. Mizell explains that sources on both sides are taking things day-by-day, even if that means leaving the door open for Harden to make things uncomfortable leading into the season, something he hasn’t done up to this point.
Morey is unlikely to allow Harden to force his hand, Mizell writes, because head coach Nick Nurse could always bench Harden and start Tyrese Maxey as the team’s lead ball-handler. Several other factors play into a potential decision by the Sixers to hold Harden until the deadline, according to Mizell, including the star guard potentially rescinding his trade request, better prospective trades popping up as the season goes on, and not wanting to take a step back during their window of contention, especially coming off Joel Embiid‘s MVP year.
We have more from the Sixers:
- Harden was a full participant in Philadelphia’s final training camp practice at Colorado State on Friday for the first time since he re-joined the team on Tuesday, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps writes. However, his status for the Sixers’ preseason opener against the Celtics on Sunday is still uncertain, according to Bontemps, who says Nurse’s rotations are still fluid for the first preseason action for the Sixers.
- Embiid reiterated to reporters on Thursday that Harden’s presence for the Sixers was not a distraction, stating that the team’s focus is on learning and installing Nurse’s schemes, Bontemps writes. “As a team, we’re just focused on what we’ve got to learn, and learn as soon as possible,” Embiid said. “We don’t have a lot of time. We want to win, and that’s the goal.“
- While the Harden situation is drawing plenty of attention, there are a handful of other storylines flying under the radar during Philadelphia’s camp. Maxey, in particular, is drawing rave reviews from Nurse, who’s becoming increasingly impressed by the guard’s outside shot and ability to create space, according to PHLY Sports’ Derek Bodner. Bodner also writes that the Sixers’ ball movement has been improved in camp.
Harden for powell, morris, and a pick seems like the inevitable outcome , as long as the clippers realize they need another pg (which they prolly will, unless russ comes roaring out of the gates). Basically what bill Simmons said on his podcast
Can all but guarantee they won’t waste cap space for next year on Powell.
Fair, but seems like they could always trade him elsewhere on an expiring contract, and I don’t see how else they get an impact player for harden rn
No one wants Powell’s contract lol. We would be better off keeping Harden for the year lol. Try again
I don’t think that’s a feasible option. Dude is checked out and even when he wasn’t the team wasn’t good enough
I think Philly would rather get nothing than that sceratio. Morey has made a point of prioritizing 2024-25 payroll space.
I think it’s a feasible option, largely because Harden doesn’t have many if any other options.
If he comes to play, like he should/can it helps us and him. Because if we don’t trade him and he does not perform well…he will have no market next year. I’m sure his team knows this even if he does not.
If he does not buy in (very possible) sit him. The returns being floated here are not moving the needle here at all. And again he will not have any market next year (assuming he does not lose his free agency availability next year by being stupid)
With Harden we are likely a top 3-4 seed in the East, without him we are still likely top 6 and potentially still 3-4. If we trade him for this garbage we are still top 6…it doesn’t help us, so why make a move?
Hardens best options are playing the good soldier and hoping he gets traded before the deadline…anything else hurts what little value he has left. I’m not a harden fan nor a hater…but this is different than Houston and Brooklyn. He is older on an expiring deal with little market…he’s gotta know this lol.
Miami what are you waiting for? Lowery for Harden is a fair deal. Get er done.
Again, no thanks…not interested in Herro either lol
At this point, that’s as good an option as any, no?
No…sitting him for the year (and I don’t think that’s likely either) would be better.
At that point why not trade for Herro and then trade him as well?
Philly is in the driver’s seat in the Harden situation.
If they have to bring him off the bench, that’s a pretty good player in your second unit.
If he’s mad about coming off the bench and decides that he’s just gonna try to score points… that’s great for your second unit.
If he’s mad about coming off the bench and decides he’s not gonna shoot or score, that’s still a pretty good playmaker setting the table for the other guys.
He’s not gonna make deliberate turnovers or “shoot turnovers” (like Westbrook with the Lakers).
Harden still wants a good contract, so I think he’ll play solid basketball no matter what the circumstances.
You must be drinking juice bwah, herro and multiple first round picks might stir Daryl to pick up the phone.
Lowry, 2 FRPs, and Jovic/Jaquez sounds fair.
And, no again
I’d take that over no return at all, if Miami is the only offer out there.
That’s crazy high lol , not a chance
No
Harden’s trade value (if it exists) isn’t anywhere close to what’s being bandied about. That’s not a guess. No need to guess; he was just in the market, and went unsigned. If he had real trade value, a team with cap space would have signed him, even if only to trade him. Or they’d have facilitated a signing elsewhere, at a price. Things can always change, but the kind of sea change necessary to make Harden a desirable asset is highly unlikely.
Spot on. Hilarious to see the Philly fans trying to cope
Harden actually has the leverage here, Morrey needs to realise that.
Harden can put his fat suit on, run around and throw up shots like he doesn’t care and force the Sixers to act quicker and settle for less. Cause if they don’t he drastically reduces his value and then ultimately he can walk in Free Agency for nothing. Even if he only gets 10mil in FA n a 1 year deal he’s made hundreds of millions, he just wants to play with his mates, in a good city, have the freedom to party and that, on a team he feels can win a championship.
You watch if Morrey tries to play the waiting game, Harden can just do whatever he wants knowing that 12 months from now he will be where he wants to be. This isnt Ben Simmons who was young, signed long term with obvious potential and upside. Morrey had leverage then cause Ben was locked into the team for years with out a career of earnings in the bank to lean on aswell.
I can’t speak for all the fans but me personally, I’m sick of player drama and prolonged trade talks with diva players on our team. The Ben Saga took it out of me and I can’t be bothered doing all that again. Just trade his for less and be down with it.