Getty Image / Tim Nwachukwu
There have been a few big names that have looked for a change of scenery during this year’s NBA offseason.
Bradley Beal was already traded to the Suns.
Damian Lillard is trying to be traded to the Miami Heat, but that hasn’t really been going anywhere lately.
James Harden also finds himself among the list of stars looking for a trade.
Harden requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers after exercising his player option on the final year of his contract.
There hasn’t been much movement on that trade either, but now the team’s president of basketball operations has revealed what he’s looking for in exchange for Harden.
During an appearance on 97.5 FM, Daryl Morey said that he wants a very good player or something the 6ers can turn into a very good player. Otherwise, they won’t be making a deal.
"If we don't get either a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, we are not going to do it," 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells 97.5 FM of trading James Harden.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 18, 2023
It’s a pretty reasonable approach to trading your franchise’s 2nd best player, but the 76ers might have a tough time getting what they want for Harden.
Right now, Harden’s top choice for his next team is the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers don’t have very good players that they can make available for trade right now if their goal is to have Harden make them a contender.
They also don’t have much that can turn into a very good player. They are short on draft picks and young talent.
That likely means any deal that sends Harden to LA would have to center around Bones Hyland, but is unclear if the Clippers are willing to part with him.
If not, that trade Harden has been looking for might not be coming any time soon.
So far this offseason, the market for James Harden hasn’t been particularly robust. If the Philadelphia 76ers are prepared to wait Harden out until that market improves, the former MVP may need to consider changing his plans for next season.