James Harden has told associates he doesn’t intend to speak to Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey ever again, according to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Harden, who was traded by the Sixers to the Los Angeles Clippers on Halloween, used to have a close relationship with Morey. However, everything changed this past offseason.
“According to league sources, Harden and his camp became convinced Morey intended to offer him only a two-year deal, with a team option on the second season, if he declined his $35.6 million player option and became a free agent at the end of June — essentially turning Harden into a year-to-year player,” Shelburne wrote. “The Sixers insisted to him that they would make him a strong offer as soon as they were allowed to, and to not mistake their caution over tampering rules for lack of interest.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Daryl Morey, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden believed Morey would trade him to the Clippers after he requested a trade in June. The 10-time All-Star grew increasingly frustrated when it did not.
By August, Harden was calling Morey a “liar” during promotional appearances in China with Adidas and strategizing how to make the Sixers as “uncomfortable as possible,” per Shelburne.
The Clippers acquired Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev from the Sixers in exchange for Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and K.J. Martin. As part of the trade, the Clippers dealt a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap and cash considerations to the Sixers while sending a pick swap and cash considerations to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Daryl Morey, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden has career averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He has made seven All-NBA teams and has won three scoring titles, two assists titles and one MVP Award.
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