The Philadelphia 76ers had a quiet offseason and are now the biggest story in the league. James Harden made his desire to be traded clear when he opted into his contract. The ten-time All-Star wanted a max deal, but the Sixers did not offer one. Philadelphia explored the trade market when Harden made the request, but Adrian Wojnarowski reported over the weekend the team has stopped talks.
The Sixers want to bring him to training camp, but Harden is not budging from his stance. The ten-time All-Star even called 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar” in a recently released video. Things are just starting to heat up, and there appears to be zero end in sight.
Harden and Morey have a history that dates back more than a decade and both have been in similar situations. Judging by what happened, things are about to get uglier in the City of Brotherly Love.
Reasons why the James Harden debacle with the Philadelphia 76ers is about to get even worse
5. 76ers just had an ugly trade standoff with Ben Simmons
Fans do not have to rack their brain’s to remember Daryl Morey and the Sixers were just in this situation two years ago. Ben Simmons had a disastrous playoff series in 2021 and refused to play for the franchise again. He held out through February’s trade deadline before Morey traded him for James Harden.
Morey never got uncomfortable. He refused to sell low on Simmons and managed to get a co-star for Joel Embiid in return. It cost the 76ers two role players and two first-round picks, but Morey made it happen. It took months and a lot of difficult moments for Philadelphia to get the result they wanted.
Things could be different in this situation if fans take a look at James Harden’s history.
4. James Harden pouted his way out of Houston
Harden wanted to leave the Rockets after the 2020 playoffs where the Lakers bounced them in the second round inside the bubble. Morey left for Philadelphia and Houston failed to upgrade the roster around him. The 6’5 wing could have held out like Simmons, but he made his current team more uncomfortable by showing up and acting out.
Harden partied during the pandemic, missed practices, and did not give max effort. It was clear just nine games into the season that the Rockets had to make a move. They could not let Harden ruin their season by letting the problem linger, so they swiftly dealt him to Brooklyn.
James Harden cannot withhold his services from the 76ers this season because it results in him not becoming a free agent, despite being in the last year of his contract. Philadelphia can make him show up, but they cannot force him to compete at his best. Harden can make things difficult on the court, in the locker room, and behind the scenes if the Sixers do not trade him.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a new coach and the reigning MVP on their roster. They want to win right now, and that could be impossible if James Harden is on the floor but not playing like an All-Star. History points to this getting messier from here.
3. History Stubbornness exists on both sides
Daryl Morey wins trades because of his stubbornness. It is how he has traded for multiple stars during his 16 years as a lead decision-maker. Morey waits for the perfect moment to maximize a player’s value. He wants to do that here, so the Sixers can stay in contention and keep Joel Embiid long-term.
James Harden is just as stubborn, and his quote from Aug. 14 makes it clear that he has zero plans of playing for the 76ers as long as Morey is still with the team.
"“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again. Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”"
Neither side is just going to give up here. There will be more words through the media and behind closed doors. The pressure will mount as training camp approaches, but the stalemate will continue. Harden will miss the first few days before eventually reporting, and things will only get worse from there.
The Philadelphia 76ers have to worry about Joel Embiid’s happiness and ability to contend just as much as this Harden drama. Things go from uncomfortable to disaster in Philly if the reigning MVP wants out. Daryl Morey cannot let that happen, so there is pressure on both sides.
James Harden wants to join the LA Clippers, and history suggests that he will end up there eventually.
2. James Harden is no stranger to trade requests
Harden knows how this dance works. He has been traded three times in his career, including twice since the start of 2021. The last two times happened during the season after the ten-time All-Star forced his hand. Going from Houston to Brooklyn was just the first scenario. He forced his way to Philadelphia in a similar fashion.
Harden’s final game with the Nets saw him score four points on two of 11 shooting from the field and commit six turnovers. It had some of his teammates wondering if the 6’5 guard had given up on his team, which was followed by him missing the next four games with a hamstring injury.
The ten-time All-Star again got his wish, which was to reunite with Daryl Morey in Philadelphia. The 76ers were the only team that was going to pay a superstar price for James Harden, so the Nets worked out the best deal they could muster.
Fans should not expect anything different from James Harden if he returns to the Philadelphia 76ers. When he decides it is over, things end quickly. Daryl Morey will wait to get what he wants, but that could create a bigger problem for both sides.
1. No team is going to pay a superstar price for James Harden
Harden is still an elite playmaker. He led the league in assists per game last season and helped the 76ers get to the playoffs, but there are questions about how much he helps in the biggest moments. Harden has disappeared in the playoffs multiple times, and Philadelphia was again bounced in the second round.
The ten-time All-Star turns 34 years old later this month and the decline is already starting to show. He was not an All-Star last season and produced his lowest points per game since 2012, despite scoring being up around the league. The cracks are beginning to show, and teams question how he will age given his off-the-court habits.
James Harden opted into his contract because there was no suitor on the open market willing to give him a max deal. He wanted to be traded, but no team came with a massive offer. All the signs are pointing to the Philadelphia 76ers trading him for a less-than-stellar package, which could impact Daryl Morey’s standing and Joel Embiid’s happiness.
Things are already ugly, but they are about to get significantly worse between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers. Buckle up because the end could be far off, and the ride is only getting bumpier from here.
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