The impact that James Harden‘s standoff with the Sixers might have on star teammate Joel Embiid has been an ongoing subplot this offseason as the Harden saga drags on. Speaking to reporters on Monday for the first time this fall, Embiid was asked if he feels the need to put public pressure on his team’s front office to make a move, the way Giannis Antetokounmpo did this summer in Milwaukee.
“It’s tricky. I think it could go both ways,” Embiid said (Twitter video link via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer). “… (The Sixers’ front office decision-makers) get paid to make those decisions, so that’s why I leave it up to them. If they want my opinion, maybe I give it, but I trust (them). Any team that I’m on, I’m still going to believe that I have a chance to win, no matter who’s on the roster. And we’ve got a lot of great players. I’m happy with what we have.”
Embiid went on to say that he thinks Tyrese Maxey could be primed to make a leap this season and that the Harden situation will “hopefully” be resolved soon.
“If he’s here, we love him and we want him to be with us, and I think we have a better team with him on the floor,” Embiid said. “And I think he knows it too, so hopefully that gets resolved. If that doesn’t (get resolved), it doesn’t change the goal, it doesn’t change anything. The goal is still to go out there and try to win a championship.”
Here’s more from the Sixers’ media day:
- Veteran Sixers forward P.J. Tucker said today that his relationship with Harden goes “way beyond basketball” and that he supports him whether he ends up remaining in Philadelphia or getting traded elsewhere (Twitter video link via Pompey). Asked if he thinks Harden will end up reporting to the 76ers, Tucker said he has “no idea,” adding, “I know he feels strongly about how he feels.”
- A feeling that he was wanted was a primary reason why Kelly Oubre signed with the Sixers, he told reporters today (Twitter link via Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports). According to Oubre, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse both pushed hard for him to sign with the club.
- Although he’s very much a part of their long-term plans, the Sixers aren’t looking to extend Maxey this offseason because they want to maximize their 2024 cap flexibility. Maxey said today that he’s not upset or discouraged by that decision, according to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). “I’m focusing on the season,” he said. “… I love Philly. I know it’s a business. I know this is how it goes.”
- Danny Green was limited to 11 appearances last season while recovering from ACL and LCL tears and he turned 36 in June, but the veteran swingman sounds optimistic about his chances of having a bounce-back season. “This is the best my body’s felt in a long time,” he said today, per Mizell (Twitter link).
Oubre was given a minimum contract so more like take it or leave it. I just don’t see him getting a better offer from anyone else.
Yeah, it is funny how all these guys found the same. They all have a PR form that tells them what to say.
They are all so excited to be with the team that picked them up and that was their preferred destination. All of them put a positive spin on everything. Honestly, it is good that they work with a PR firm. Especially for the youngest. And these guys are great athletes, but that doesn’t mean they are intelligent or mature. You don’t want them to just say anything that will hurt them.
Nobody was offering him a starting job and sixers were probably the best playoff team to offer him a contract. After what Morey did to Harden why would you trust him?
What exactly did he do to harden? He gave him two max deals in Houston and got him on a contender in philly. If Harden doesn’t **** the bed in game 6-7 (which is a theme), then I doubt he’d be having his contract issues right now.
They still would, because Morey is a bean counter. If it doesn’t give the team on-court numbers, it doesn’t matter to him. Saying that he was going to trade Harden, then shutting down any trade talks and asking for ridiculous returns most of the time wasn’t operating in good faith at all. He was the same way in Houston.
Harden was hardly the only one to play badly in that series. Embiid played like he couldn’t wait to go home and looked so hangdog in game 7 and played like he forgot how to hold a basketball in game 2. And the roleplayers didn’t step up at all. Blaming it all on Harden is satisfying, but incorrect. He won them two of their three wins almost singlehandedly and played a big role in game 5.
Embiid choked worse than Harden imo. Harden gave Philly more clutch play than they ever had a right to expect out of a guy with his track record.
Really really missed out not going for Jrue via the Clippers and kicking Harden out.
Jrue and Maxey would’ve been so tough, now we and back to page 1, no deal on the horizon and with a disgruntled co star next to Embiid. Last time this happened it took a year to get rid of Ben Simmons who atleast had some value in potential. James is on an expiring deal and is old and we all know about the fat suits and things. This needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later and unfortunately for us I doubt it will be.
100%
Sixers weren’t giving up their last two FRPs. And the Clippers have no drive for helping the Sixers get the better player.
Harden comes in out of shape every year. He is a cancer to every team he has been a part of. What executive wants that kind of garbage in their system? He has left such a long trail of selfishness that any team that actually makes a deal for him deserve the end result.