The Sixers have halted trade talks involving James Harden and plan to have him on the roster when training camp opens, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Sources tell Wojnarowski that Philadelphia had discussions with the Clippers, who are Harden’s preferred destination, but the teams weren’t able to make any progress toward a deal.
Harden and the Sixers’ front office agreed to work together to find a trade when he picked up his $35.6MM option for next season. However, team officials believe Harden gives them a chance to win a title and they don’t want to break up a potential championship roster, according to Wojnarowski’s sources.
Woj adds that Harden has remained insistent about a trade, so there could be an “uncomfortable situation” when training camp opens. There’s precedent for that, as Harden forced his way out of Houston and Brooklyn before arriving in Philadelphia. Even so, management isn’t willing to part with him unless the Sixers receive similar value in return.
Harden is a former MVP and a 10-time All-Star, and the Clippers don’t have anyone of that stature unless they give up Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, which they haven’t shown any willingness to do.
A more likely offer would include veterans such as Marcus Morris ($17.1MM), Nicolas Batum ($11.7MM) and Robert Covington ($11.7MM), whose expiring contracts could help match Harden’s salary, along with a young player or two and draft assets.
A report last month said L.A. has been reluctant to include guard Terance Mann in any offer for Harden.
Wow
They want a top level star
Third team offer that star
Remember when the Rockets did this and then traded him 10 games into the season? He is going to pout until he gets his way. Bad move Philly.
So, what is “similar value” for an aging, pouting player who will likely show up out of shape and with a bad attitude?
An expiring contract should be viewed as positive so getting a DeRozen in return should be close to similar (just an example), or a return package of picks/assets that can be used to recoup a similar return. Harden is still a top 30 player at worst. I don’t love his style of play, but his talent and expiring deal should yield a decent return.
Harden hasn’t been a top player in years, and his play style is obsolete in todays NBA. Time to face reality.
He still can take control of games. As a Nets’ fan, I saw how he could take control in the fourth quarter. I also saw how he could check out. He should come in ready to play as if it’s a contract year, because it is.
@highwaymenace “Hasn’t been a top player in years…”
He averaged 21, 6, and a league-leading 10 last season on a playoff team… everybody does that, right?
3 players hand 20pts and 10 assists last year. 28 players had 20 and 5 assists. So idk maybe from that pool.
Clippers would be worse off trading for Harden. Morey wants a high price for Harden so he will not get traded.
Makes sense Im a clippers fan but the package the clippers and their fans probably want to trade , Marcus Morris ,Robert covington and Norman Powell is just god awful ! Trading harden could factually drop sixers into play in tournament range !
It’s mainly Powell’s 60 million albatross contract that we are opposed to…no thanks.
I mean also Morris is washed up and you remember roco from back in the day ! All the physical sacrifices he’s made over the last decade have caught up to him ! All the wear and tear means he has nothing left to offer either ! Powell is decent but the contract sucks and he can’t be a starting shooting’ guard with Maxey ! Same height and same defensive issues
Albatross contract? Have you you looked at the contracts Herro, Poole, Bruce Brown, Robinson and Simons have?
Powell’s contract is market value.
It’s not albatross but it’s definitely negative value ! He’s not a starting sg of sf in the nba ! He’s a 6ft 3 shoot first second and last scoring guard with no defense or passing chops! My clippers traded for him thinking he would be a nice luxury off the bench thar they could afford with their deep pockets ! But the new cba nixes that ! Now his contract is a nuisance for the clippers and it’s not desirable for other teams ! He’s also gonna be 31 this season compared to those other Guy you named being in their 20s while still overpaid
So bottom line morris, roco and norm is a god awful package that had no re trade value ! If it did they could easily loop a third team in ans harden would be a clipper by now !
Not when we are looking at 50 mil in cap space after the expiring of Harden/Harris. I would much rather try with what we have and have 50+ to work with BEFORE extending Maxey who only has a 13 mil cap hold. Or we could have 30 million and Powell for next year….no thanks. Powell is not coming to a Philly. Don’t want Herro or his contract either….ditto LaVine…etc.
With Harden we are likely too 3-4 in the East
With him on the bench we are still likely top 6…IMO
Why trade him to remain at that same level with Powell etc. when we have more money next year and no Powell thank God! I would keep him until the deadline or during the season if this is the junk coming back. It needs to make us better or as good this year…or next year. But Powell does not move the needle and straps us financially for the future…again, no thanks!
The right move especially with what the Clippers had to offer. Harden is playing for a new contract he could always be traded at the deadline worst case scenario.
Correct move
Kawhi and his half a season of load management for half a season of Harden before he pouts and wants another trade. Who says no?
Probably Clippers. At least Kawhi plays well for 20 games a year.
Philly The More Erie Soap Opera is now playing this is Act 1 Scene 1.
If the only thing holding it up is Terence Mann, the Clippers are fools. He’s not even young, he’s already 27. Harden is the Clips only way to improve and be better than a play in team next season. If you’re playing hardball over a guy who avg’d 8-2-3 at 26 years old, you’ve lost the plot.
Just give him an extension, I know it’s gonna hurt future roster flexibility but I don’t think I could stand another season of Harden talk.
Predictable. Harden asked for this. He opted in to a well above-market option salary, making his contract a bad one. His negotiated right, but now he can’t expect PHI to move it by taking back other bad contracts, so he can play where he wants.
Correct
Isn’t he only a 10-time all star?
No one has any real leverage
So Harden better find a way to be happy
And I have to accept that stupid chicken wing move of his
Yet another instance of Morey going back on his word. Absolutely pathetic. For the good of the NBA, he needs to be fired and blacklisted.
He never promised harden a trade to the clippers ! Nor should he trade harden to the clippers for a terrible terrible package of Morris, roco and norman Powell ! When he opted in and took the money he gave up his ability to dictate what kind of trade the sixers had to make
Read the article again…. “Harden and the Sixers’ front office agreed to work together to find a trade when he picked up his $36.5MM option for next season.” …. They had an agreement that he would be traded, and now Morey is saying he won’t trade Harden.
Lol, did they say we will give you away for junk???
Harden is exhausting. No one is going to give him the max contract he’s looking for. Re-upping with the Sixers guaranteed his money because he knew the market wasn’t there for him dollar wise. Asking for a trade and getting it would’ve been a cherry on top, but he knew it was a long shot.
At the end of the day his brand is what hurts him. Lack of defense, miscellaneous games missed, aloof approach and demands to be moved over and over with zero rings renders him as a player to pass on. Sure, he can ball on one side of the court, but the other side of the court along with his off the court demands make him a hard pass for most, if not all teams.
I hate watching Harden play, but I think it was more about the fact that all the teams with cap room were rebuilding young teams that werent real interested in or interesting to Harden. No contenders in win now mode had cap room to pay him. He wanted to leverage HOU to get PHI to pay up since he wanted to contend and get paid, which he couldnt do as a FA.
I’d take Morris, Powell, Westbrook. Straight up. Unfortunately Russ can’t be moved till December.
Powell, Morris, Covington, Batum, a pick
For >>>>>>>>
Harden. PJ, House
Move on Philly. Stop taking one step forward. To move two steps back. Harden is not worth it.
No one wants Powell lol
Yeah no one wants 17 pts a gm.
.40% (3PT) shooter ……
.54% FG shooter ……
.81% FT shooter ……
Certainly Sixers don’t want that.
LOL ……
No we don’t want 60 million on the books when we are just as good without him and have an additional 20 million to play with next year.
If Morey doesn’t make a move quickly you will bash him…if Morey makes this move you will bash him….
You’re pretty predictable, but even worse you espouse an idiotic trade with negative value as a good move.
If they wanted Westbrook they would’ve grabbed him while he was an FA.
Why didn’t Harden just opt out? What an exhausting situation.
Likely because no one has the combination of cap space and interest in offering him a multi year deal at 30 mil +. The only way he could get paid 30 + this year was this very avenue.
Second round, here we come.
I have no problem with this, he opted in. Had a disagreement with Morey over an extension.
Morey tried to make a deal to send him to his desired landing spot but it didn’t work.
Can’t see Harden being a diva to force the move as he is in the final year of his contract and that would drastically hurt his potential earnings in his next contract. He kind of needs to go out and preform to show he’s worth the money he wants and deserves his next contract which is tale only helps build his value and helps the sixers get a better return.
I’ve always said ideally we deal Harden and Harris for PG, Morris, RoCo and Mann. That’s what I’d be willing to also give up a first round pick for and hold out for.
If we were to forget about dealing Harden to the clippers what about these alternatives…
1. Harden for Dlo and Reaves
Lakers create a big 3 of LBJ, AD and Harden.
Vincent would pair nicely with Harden. That fifth starter is really up for grabs with Prince, Vanderbilt and Hachimura.
Sixers don’t really care for Dlo but maybe we do it for Reaves….? Can easily flip Dlo to a third team …
2. Harden and House for FVV, Tate and Whitmore.
Houston takes another step on the ladder of being more competitive.
Harden Green Brooks Smith Sengun sounds exciting and good depth, Thompson KPJ Eason Green/Tucker Landale
Sixers get back a guard in FVV to replace Harden, Whitmore is a great pick up and Tate is a solid role player for depth.
FVV Maxey Tate Harris Embiid, Beverly Melton Whitmore House Reed.
3. Harden and Tucker for Hayward, Bridges and Martin
Hornets add some much needed experience. Ball Harden Miller Tucker Williams/Richards would be exciting to watch. Rozier sixth man with PJ Washington aswell… could make a playoff run possibly.
Sixers Melton Maxey Hayward Harris Embiid, Beverly Korkmaz Bridges House Reed
Would love the different scoring options
None of those deals would be possible due to contracts and would have to wait until December. Secondly, if Houston wanted him, they’d have offered him a contract. Why in the world they’d trade a top pick/kid for a player they could’ve had without trading for is something you probably should’ve asked yourself before posting that one.
I’m curious if the crack down on flopping will impact his game. Sure won’t help any.