According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, James Harden felt that Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey was “ghosting” him before free agency started. Rather than wait for Morey and the Sixers to present whatever offer they had come up with once free agency opened on July 1, Harden decided to pick up his $35.6 million player option for next season before the June 30 deadline and request a trade.
The Sixers were stunned at Harden’s decision, insisting to him and his representatives they had been distant only because they were hit with the largest tampering fine in NBA history and that they had every intention of re-signing him as soon as the rules allowed. However, it was too late.
“James takes things very personally,” one NBA source close to Harden said. “When he feels like he’s been wronged, he can be very stubborn.”
Harden was fined $100,000 by the NBA for calling Morey “a liar” during his Adidas tour in China. The NBA launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Harden’s public admonishment of Morey. As part of the investigation, Harden told NBA investigators he called Morey “a liar” because he wasn’t traded “quickly” after opting into his player option for the 2023-24 season, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Daryl Morey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Philadelphia informed Harden it hadn’t found a suitable trade with his preferred destination of the Los Angeles Clippers and that it expected him to report to the team’s training camp in September. Despite public speculation, Harden has made no allegations of a previous handshake agreement with the Sixers on a future contract.
Harden exercised his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season in June with an expectation that Morey would work with him on finding a trade to the Clippers. The Sixers and Clippers engaged in numerous conversations but never gained traction on a deal.
Morey, leery of making a trade involving Harden that diminishes Philadelphia’s chances at contention next season, is faced with the dilemma of acquiescing to Harden’s demand and keeping Joel Embiid part of a contending team next season. Morey is running the risk of an unhappy Harden creating something less than a championship-driven environment.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Daryl Morey, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In 58 games for the Sixers last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
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