The Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden are in the midst of a standoff. The ten-time All-Star wants to be traded, but the franchise needs him to stay in contention. Things are only going to get worse and the showdown between Harden and Daryl Morey is just beginning. Oct. 3 is a key date as the Sixers will report to training camp, but will Harden show up?
The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Harden does not plan to attend (subscription required), despite the front office ending trade talks. The superstar opted in because the market for his services was not robust, so nobody should expect a blockbuster deal to materialize before camp. The Sixers are not accepting a bad deal, which likely creates a holding pattern.
Harden is in the final year of his contract, so he must report by Nov. 3 or the 76ers can keep him becoming a free agent in the 2024 offseason. Still, Harden can hold out for 30 days. He will be fined, but what should the franchise do if that becomes reality?
Things the Philadelphia 76ers must immediately do if James Harden doesn’t report to camp
5. Remain patient
The Sixers have the leverage in this situation, and Harden not reporting may be the best-case scenario. Ask Rockets fans about the ten-time All-Star showing up after requesting a trade. That did not end well for the team and why would Harden be more motivated during this training camp?
He will have to show up before Philadelphia plays their fifth regular season game, and Harden should be motivated. Part of his disdain comes from not receiving the contract offer he wanted. He isn’t getting it unless he plays like a superstar this season. Even the team that trades for him cannot extend him, so Harden’s best bet is playing lights out and proving he is worth a massive contract.
The Philadelphia 76ers must remain patient with James Harden, but the front office should be active.
4. Explore the trade market for upgrades
The 76ers goal remains the same with or without James Harden. They want to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs for the first time since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001 and ultimately win the championship. Philadelphia has the reigning MVP and a talented roster behind him. They are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and should have their sights set on contending.
Joel Embiid and Paul Reed are the only two players under contract for the 2024-25 season. Daryl Morey and the front office want to keep their cap space open to improve their roster, but few marquee acquisitions come via free agency. The Sixers should be focused on maximizing their roster now and giving Embiid the best chance at winning it all.
Things can change quickly during training camp. Teams have to cut their rosters down before the start of the regular season, and talent certainly becomes available. The Philadelphia 76ers should look to capitalize. They are light on ball-handling and playmaking without the ten-time All-Star and should be looking to fill holes in their roster with players that fit new head coach Nick Nurse’s system.
Finding a trade for James Harden won’t be easy, but the entire organization should have a plan in place.
3. Remove James Harden from their plans
Harden made it clear that he won’t play for Daryl Morey again. Fans have seen the superstar can be stubborn and nearly always gets his way. He wanted out of Houston and wound up playing next to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. Harden demanded a trade from the Nets and was reunited with his old pal turned enemy Daryl Morey in Philly.
He wants to go to the Clippers, and the ten-time All-Star may ultimately get his wish.
James Harden should not be part of the 76ers plans at any level of the organization. Nick Nurse and the coaching staff should assume he will not be there to run the offense. The player must be prepared to play without him and figure things out as currently constructed. Even the front office should not assume a significant haul is coming for Harden’s expiring contract.
If Harden is immediately wiped from the team’s plans, they can begin training camp as normal. Yes, there will be questions to answer about the ten-time All-Star and his absence, but the rest of the roster has time to prepare for their role sans Harden.
The addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. gives the Philadelphia 76ers some added scoring. Tobias Harris can take on more offensive responsibility, but a young guard transforming into the lead ball-handler is the key to the Sixers staying in contention.
2. Make Tyrese Maxey the PG
Maxey is an elite shooter who continues to improve. He averaged over 20 points per game on outstanding shooting efficiency last season, and it is time for the 76ers to find out if he can become a superstar lead ball-handler or is more of a score-first weapon. Is Maxey more Tyler Herro or Damian Lillard?
Philadelphia won’t find out until they put him in that role. Maxey’s playmaking took a step back last season as James Harden dominated the ball, but he averaged 4.3 assists in his second NBA season. Can he get it to five or 5.5 each night? If so, Maxey could become a star.
For the 22-year-old to make his first All-Star appearance, he must run the offense or improve his defense. As an undersized point guard, his defense will be average at best, but his offensive game could take a massive leap.
New head coach Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers should turn the keys to the offense over to Tyrese Maxey. They are not trading James Harden for another lead playmaker, which means Maxey must run the show in his fourth NBA season. Can he take the next step? Doing so is the key to the Sixers finally breaking through and reaching the conference finals.
1. Keep Joel Embiid happy
All things in Philadelphia should revolve around the reigning MVP. The 76ers have made the playoffs six straight years because of Embiid, which is the franchise’s longest streak since the late 1980s. The seven-footer is the franchise, and Philly’s key to contention.
The front office cannot let the James Harden drama impact Embiid’s future. If the reigning MVP requests a trade, the Sixers would be forced to grant it. Yes, they would get a massive haul in return, but it would mean another rebuild in the City of Brotherly Love. The last thing Sixers fans want is a repeat of The Process.
The franchise should constantly check Embiid’s temperature and must do whatever it takes to make him happy. If he wants the Sixers to make an upgrade, Philadelphia should not hesitate to trade its available draft capital to grant his wish. Having the reigning MVP means being all-in, and the Sixers must do it.
Will James Harden report to training camp with his teammates? Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out. Hopefully, he decides to be fully engaged and gives the Philadelphia 76ers a chance to win the title in 2024. It seems unlikely, but fans can always dream.
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