Tyrese Maxey was a guest on former NBA guard JJ Redick’s podcast and the talented young scorer was asked to talk about James Harden, who has requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. Maxey told Redick that Harden has been very professional despite wanting to get traded.
“First of all, I’m gonna give a shoutout to JH because he didn’t make it weird at all,” Maxey said. “He came in and he was very like, it’s not what I was expecting. I’m just gonna be honest, not what I expected. He was very receptive. He worked hard. He did all the drills. He was talking to even young guys that he didn’t know. Think about it, James Harden won MVP, scoring champ, two-time assists leader. Like he’s sitting there talking to guys like Ricky Council.”
Harden has not caused any drama since reporting to Sixers training camp. However, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, The Beard still has zero intentions of playing for Philadelphia again. Harden requested a trade from the Sixers in June and is angry at Daryl Morey.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Harden felt Morey ghosted 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 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.
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.
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 Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers and Clippers engaged in numerous conversations but never gained traction on a deal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In 58 games for the Sixers last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
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