The Philadelphia 76ers don’t think it’s over with James Harden, who opted into his 2023-24 player option and wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Harden is extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the franchise.
“One, the Sixers are not afraid to let it be known that they don’t think necessarily it’s over with James Harden, that maybe everybody was just a little bit in their feelings,” Windhorst said on his podcast. “And a little bit fired up about the state of the negotiations on Thursday, and Harden very angrily picked up his option, that it may not be over that.”
Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 2023-23 while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. The future Hall of Famer led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games despite having a 3-2 lead in the series. Doc Rivers was fired as head coach and replaced by Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors over the Golden State Warriors.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Nurse and Harden met in Houston in June and the meeting went well. However, it appears money has gotten in the way between Harden and the Sixers, as Harden wants a max contract and Philadelphia doesn’t want to give him one.
One of the greatest players of all time, Harden has career averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He is still looking to win his first championship.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
It will be fascinating to see where Harden is playing next season. The Clippers, who have zero championships in franchise history, have already spoken to the Sixers about a Harden trade.
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