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Big news broke Thursday when it was revealed by NBA insiders that Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden and the team will seek a trade for the future Hall of Famer after he opts into his player option on Friday.
BREAKING: 76ers G James Harden is picking up his $35.6 million option and sides are beginning to work together in exploring trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN. It’s expected that Harden has played his last game for Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/GguWgysfNZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2023
This puts an end to the James Harden-Sixers Era, and is yet another trade request for Harden, the third since the 2021 season began. The former MVP and ten-time All-Star is still looking for his first NBA Finals appearance and NBA Championship, and time is running out for the 33-year-old.
It looked like this could be the year for James Harden to make the finals. Teammate Joel Embiid won the MVP, the Milwaukee Bucks lost in the first round, and they led the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a possible clinching game back at home in Philadelphia. But, the Sixers suffered two embarrassing losses, with Harden and Embiid playing poorly.
And, late Thursday Night, The Athletic reported on some of the reasons as to why the relationship had broken down.
When Harden decided to take a significant pay cut nearly a year ago, declining his $47.4 million player option with the Philadelphia 76ers to sign a one-plus-one deal in which he would be paid $33 million for the 2022-23 campaign, there was a widespread belief that it was a classic case of quid pro quo. Harden would give some money back as a way of helping the Sixers fill out their roster, thereby inching them even closer to a title that has eluded the franchise since 1983 and Harden for his entire professional career (circa 2009). And in the following offseason, many presumed, the 10-time All-Star and former MVP would be handsomely rewarded with a contract more befitting of his future Hall of Fame talents.
While free agency doesn’t officially begin until Friday evening, a player of Harden’s caliber could typically expect to have some clarity about the incumbent franchise’s intentions long before that time arrives. But in recent weeks and days, sources say, all indications on Harden’s side pointed to the Sixers forcing him to test the market before they would make an offer of any kind. The understandable concern for Harden, sources say, was that Philadelphia was preparing to offer him the kind of short-term, team-friendly contract that wouldn’t come close to reflecting his stature in the league or the level of his current play (he averaged 21 points, a league-leading 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds in the regular season; 20.3 points, 8.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 11 postseason games). Harden, who hired Troy Payne, Mike Silverman and Brandon Grier of Equity Basketball to be his agents in February after going more than five years without full-time representation, had no interest in being put in that compromised negotiating position. And it would only grow worse as free agency neared.
And, it talked about where Harden wants to go, which is a team already linked with the superstar.
According to sources directly involved in the situation on both sides, the Los Angeles native wants to play for the Clippers and the Sixers are already in the process of discussing his desired move. Harden is, according to sources close to him, extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the organization.
While it seems likely that he’ll land with the Clippers, it remains to be seen whether his longtime basketball partner, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, will grant this unexpected wish. Sources say, however, that there is strong optimism on Harden’s side that it will indeed happen. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining their core, according to sources.
What a mess. And, it was easily predicted, because it’s nearly always a mess with James Harden.