James Harden said he would never be part of a Daryl Morey organization again, and when push came to shove he is putting those words into action.
Harden has not been around the 76ers since Sunday when he skipped a shootaround, and he was not at the team’s practice on Wednesday, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
James Harden is a no show at Philadelphia 76ers practice today, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Harden has not been present with the team since Sunday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 18, 2023
The team’s reaction to this was relatively muted, but him not returning for practice seemed to catch them a little off guard.
Joel Embiid on James Harden skipping Sixers practice, adding (before I started recording) that they had a good practice:
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) October 18, 2023
“I think probably had something important to do or something came up. But, you know, guys know what it is.” pic.twitter.com/yk1Wo2t6DG
Nick Nurse said that, based on his last discussion with James Harden, he was a bit surprised Harden was absent from today’s practice.
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) October 18, 2023
Nurse said all other Sixers practiced.
The 76ers open their season in eight days, on Oct. 26, against the Bucks in Milwaukee. It seems highly unlikely that Harden will play in that game.
Harden not being around the 76ers changes nothing. It does not put more pressure on the 76ers, who have tried hard to trade him, but have been prepared to go into the season without him and bank on a big Tyrese Maxey season. It certainly does not put more pressure on the Clippers to up their offer. League sources continue to tell NBC Sports that, while the sides may be talking, there is no real traction toward a deal.
Harden has been one of the biggest NBA stories of the summer, but for anyone who spent their summer on a beach without their phone or just wants a quick recap, this is how we got here. Back in July, Harden demanded a trade from Philadelphia (primarily due to not getting the contract extension he wanted and expected), and he asked to go to the Los Angeles Clippers. Philly decision maker Daryl Morey did his due diligence and tried to trade Harden — including to the Clippers — but found little market for the 34-year-old guard forcing his way off his third team in four years, and about to become a free agent. Morey wants enough assets back in a trade — including multiple first-round picks and quality players — to flip into another All-Star, someone who can play next to Joel Embiid and keep the 76ers contenders. The Clippers are the only real suitor for Harden but are not offering anywhere near that (one first-round pick, one pick swap, and expiring matching salary).
One more wrinkle to watch: The NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement says if a player in the final year of his contract — which Harden is — withholds services for 30 days, they can lose their free agent status and can’t negotiate with another team in the offseason without the permission of the contract holder (the 76ers).
Harden may feel better being away from the team, but this continues to look like a situation that drags out into the season and will only get messier.
