76ers: Analyst bares Clippers gambit that killed James Harden trade talks

The Philadelphia 76ers have been running in circles as they deal with James Harden and his well-documented, not-so-novel exploits as his trade request has culminated into sheer nothingness. A ray of light once rose with one team exhibiting legitimate interest in striking a deal for the disgruntled star, but it seems like even that will simply pivot into an unproductive tollgate in this elliptical.

Now, the 76ers are apparently back to square one.

Analyst bares Clippers gambit that killed James Harden trade talks with 76ers

Discussions between Philadelphia’s brass and the LA Clippers were noted to still be ongoing despite a lack of movement, but one NBA analyst recently bared that trade talks for Harden have been effectively quashed.

Of course, NBA fans know that Wright’s among one of the most speculative pundits in the industry, but his abrupt reveal is perfectly on-tangent with the patters exhibited by the Clippers front office.

Terance Mann has long been made untouchable in trade talks, with LA not even budging on letting the shackles loose much to the puzzlement of many. Sure, Mann has shown promise, but he’s not particularly young to warehouse as an insurance for the future. The rationale behind the win-now and all-in Clippers treating him as such is dripping with mystique nary of logic.

Heck, that the 76ers were hospitable to the already preternatural notion of crafting an offer themselves atop the deprecatory discount for someone of Harden’s caliber — sans his histrionics — is disrespectful.

If this holds up to be the truth, Philadelphia will have to trek in order to find an actual taker for Harden, who has repeatedly been a no-show for the 76ers this preseason and even in team practices. Unfortunately, as many already know by now, the list of teams with a functional need for the former MVP and the financial gymnastics to get into the trading table can be narrowed down to probably less than a handful at most.