‣ James Harden wants to make the 76ers uncomfortable and trade him.
‣ There is not widespread interest in James Harden from other teams.
‣ Philadelphia might be reluctant to trade Harden to an East rival.
James Harden is on the way to Sixers training camp with intentions of making a scene, per @wojespn:
“James Harden wants a trade. He wants to make the 76ers uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, ultimately, they don’t think they’ll get the best out of him and make a trade.”
— Evan Sidery (@esidery)
Details
The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a difficult situation with star player James Harden. Harden’s recent decision to skip NBA Media Day is just one of many moves he has made this offseason to create tension within the organization. In fact, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Harden is purposely trying to make the 76ers so uncomfortable that they will be forced to trade him.
Despite the friction between Harden and the Sixers, it remains unclear if there are any teams interested in acquiring him. Even if Philadelphia were to entertain trade offers, Wojnarowski believes it would be challenging to find a deal that would allow the Sixers to remain championship contenders this season. This is in stark contrast to the situation the Sixers faced with Ben Simmons a few years ago, where there was widespread interest in potential trades.
In an interview with a Houston reporter in August, Harden expressed his belief that his relationship with the Sixers is beyond repair. It is possible that Harden’s frustration stems from the fact that the Sixers did not trade him after he exercised his player option. There were also rumors of a potential lucrative contract offer from the Sixers in free agency, which may have caused further disappointment if it did not materialize.
If the Sixers do decide to trade Harden during the season, it is likely that Western Conference teams would be the top contenders. The Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets are possible destinations, with a return to Houston seeming like the most viable option. However, the Sixers are likely to hold their ground until they receive fair compensation for the disgruntled star.
Ultimately, the future of James Harden and his relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers remains uncertain. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds and what impact it will have on the team’s championship aspirations.
