Having returned from China to Houston for his JH-Town Weekend charity event, Sixers star James Harden was asked by KHOU 11’s Jason Bristol whether his relationship with his current NBA team is “beyond repair.”
“I think so,” Harden replied.
Harden’s response isn’t surprising, given that he’s just a few days removed from calling Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a liar and stating that he’ll never again be part of an organization that Morey is a part of.
Still, Harden’s position is worth noting, since it suggests he’s not taking the same route Kevin Durant took in Brooklyn a year ago. Durant reportedly told the Nets last August that they should choose between trading him or firing general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash.
Harden, conversely, has offered no such ultimatum to the Sixers and given no indication that he’d be happy to remain in Philadelphia if Morey is dismissed. It’s also possible he believes there’s little chance that 76ers ownership would choose him over Morey at this point and that it’s not a strategy worth pursuing.
Asked by Bristol whether he has an open line of communication with the Sixers and how patient he needs to be as he waits for his trade request to be granted, Harden said he’s “been patient all summer.”
“For me, it’s just focus on what I can control, and that’s working out, staying in shape, and getting ready for a good season,” the former MVP added.
It remains unclear how the standoff between the Sixers and Harden might be resolved. While the veteran guard has no desire to play another game for the team and reportedly doesn’t plan to attend training camp if he’s still on the roster, the organization isn’t making a concerted effort to move him and still expects him at camp.
Both sides have some leverage in the dispute. The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a player who withholds his services for more than 30 days is deemed to have not completed his contract. That means Philadelphia could prevent Harden – who has an expiring deal – from reaching free agency in 2024 if he declines to report to the Sixers for more than a month without the club’s consent.
However, Harden has some recent experience steering himself to a preferred destination without needing to resort to a holdout — he pushed for and received trades out of Houston in 2021 and Brooklyn in 2022. The Sixers also likely won’t want to risk ruining another year of Joel Embiid‘s prime by spending a significant portion of the season dealing with Harden-related drama.
In other news water is wet
when water molecules stick together through hydrogen bonding, they create a cohesive force that can produce the feeling of wetness
Okay nerd
Can’t be upset with someone for having more knowledge than you.
Oh sure you can, You entitled to even.
Harden is flailing. Truely if he sits out another year or worse still gets injured this year i cant imagine a team willing to pay him over 35 million a year for multiple years post age 35. Hes not Lebron or Jordan.
If Harden doesn’t play this year his career is over.
I didn’t think anyone would pay Kyrie this year amd yet here we are
The Mavs gave up quite a bit for him and are desperate to keep Luka, so they were always going to resign him. The only question was the price.
And at least in Kyrie’s case, he’s not yet on the decline.
James harden needs to retire and join the cast of an soap opera.
Please move to China
Imagine the reception he gers rhe next time he plays in Philly…
I’m not a Harden fan or defending him in the slightest. But James truly does not care what the media and fans think about him. He’s been booed before, he’ll be fine.
He certainly has demonstrated he doesn’t care. I’m not sure he is going to be fine though. I’m guessing the rest of his career he just further descends into being a whiny little b…
If he sits out and doesn’t reach free agency, does that mean he is still under contract and the 76ers have pay him next year?
There’s probably a chance if he sits out he doesn’t get paid. So that’ll never happen. That hammy will flare up just in time for the second practice lol, so the smart money says yes he will report if not traded but he’ll quickly be sitting because of injury.
Any team stupid enough to get involved with this guy deserves everything they get with him.
Honest question- how many teams actually want Harden? If he was a free agent would teams line up to sign him for more than the minimum? As good of a talent as he can be, I’m just not sure there’s much of a market for him considering the potential baggage
See Kyrie Irving
You hope that when you are trying dump a star with baggage like Kyrie or Harden that there is one GM/team that is dumber than you. If not then you are the dumbest one.
Wait, Harden thinks?
Essentially, Harden’s best leverage is the well-being of a player better than him.
A lot of words are being put in Harden’s mouth in this article.
He was asked if relationship was beyond repair and he said yes.
No, he said I think so
Harden leaves the door open a crack because he has no leverage and he knows it.
This article is rife with trash like “It’s also possible he believes…”
The title of this article should be “James Harden speculation.” because there are very few facts here.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! Who’s to blame on the third time?
The third guy, Adam Silver.
Who will be the next team to get lured in by Harden? Someone will, Kyrie was able to find another home.
Harden versus Lillard
One on one
Who wins?
Harden is the one who opted in
So….
Oh god harden is a jerk. He caused the problem and then blames everyone else and his media buddies just keep letting this loudmouth narcissist rant and act like he is out upon receiving only $35 million. Stop with the Harden bs please
“For me, it’s just focus on what I can control”
You mean like a player option? Oh wait…
I think it’s time Daryl gets fired, his track record with this drama is just as bad as Hardens
They are all made for each other: Morey, Harden, Simmons, and even Embiid to an extent. What a dysfunctional organization.
As a sixers fan I shake my head and dream of what should be Embid Butler Bridges Maxey and cry. Harris the owner needs to go.
Don’t forget the biggest mistake, Tatum over that bum Fultz!
Clippers’ offer for Harden sounded bad. Can’t blame the 76ers for saying no. Harden had his chance to be a FA & go wherever he wants. No one would pay what he wants, including the 76ers. He isn’t getting any younger, and combine that with his antics, and his value drops. He should have played the consummate professional card when he asked for the trade, maybe some GM would have thought he has changed. Nope…nuclear option.
They better just do what James says…
Thinks? What planet is this dude on?? You made the situation and relationship beyond repair. If I’m Daryl Morey (and I never wish to be) I would dump his ass for whatever you can get at this point. Who cares if it’s a crappy package from the Clippers. It’s not worth having him on the team anymore. Especially when you have a new head coach. Do you want Nick Nurse to play good cop/bad cop?
He needs to talk with the league about being released from his contract, with the stri t stipulation that by doing so he legally cannot EVER be involved in the NBA again.
He forfeits his salary, and also agrees to never speak of anything regarding the NBA again (this will prevent ESPN from hiring him, which is just a bonus for me).
Then he can go play in China or wherever is supposedly offering him 900 million.
Man, do I love that Harden photo. He looks like Alfred E Neumann.
Well, duh. You throw a tantrum in the media as big as this, and you “think” the relationship with the organisation you have completely screwed over is unrepairable? Soon enough, not even China will want this man because of his behaviour.