James Harden remains away from the Philadelphia 76ers and it is “increasingly unclear” if the 2017-18 MVP will play in the Sixers’ season opener versus the Milwaukee Bucks on October 26, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Harden is in Houston with his mother, who is sick. The 10-time All-Star still wants the Sixers to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harden appeared in 58 games last season for the Sixers, who lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games despite having a 3-2 lead in the series. The Beard averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists during the 2022-23 regular season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. Harden led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
A future Hall of Famer, Harden has career NBA averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He requested a trade from the Rockets in 2020-21 and was traded to the Nets. Harden then requested a trade from the Nets in 2021-22 and was sent to the Sixers.
Harden exercised his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season in June with an expectation that Sixers president Daryl Morey would work with him on finding a trade to the Clippers. The Sixers and Clippers have engaged in numerous conversations but have never gained traction on a deal since Philadelphia wants Terance Mann and Los Angeles wants to keep the guard.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden called Morey a liar during his Adidas tour in China over the summer. The NBA fined Harden $100,000. Harden no longer has a relationship with Morey and doesn’t want to play for the Sixers ever again.
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