Philadelphia 76ers Refuse to Trade James Harden, Causing Commotion
The tension escalates in the recent trade conflict between previous NBA MVP James Harden and Daryl Morey, general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers in June, but the 76ers were unable to make a deal due to their high demands for the eight-time NBA All-Star.
On Saturday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers won't trade Harden. The Clippers backed off on a deal with the 76ers, and the huge asking price for Harden discouraged any other potential suitors. Without a suitable deal in sight, the standoff has reached an impasse.
After the 76ers declared they won't trade him, Harden reacted angrily and publicly labeled Morey a liar.
The Sixers (54-28) secured the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, led by a fantastic performance from center Joel Embiid. Embiid won his first MVP award last season.
The Sixers defeated the #6 Brooklyn Nets in the first round but were eliminated by the #2 Boston Celtics in a ferocious seven-game confrontation in the Eastern Conference semifinals. After a strong start, Harden went cold later in the series. He scored only seven points in a pivotal game 7 elimination match, which included no points in the second half.
Harden Selects $35.6M, Requests Trade to Clippers
The Sixers sacked head coach Doc Rivers shortly after their playoff exit. Rumors circulated that the New York Knicks were the prime candidate to trade Embiid, which was foolhardy considering that Embiid had just earned his first MVP award.
Morey and the Sixers dispelled the Embiid trade chatter. Embiid, who is truthful to a fault, said his goal was to win an NBA championship with the team that offered him the best chance to win a title.
Harden's future at the Sixers depends on the organization's decision to sign him to a contract extension or let him pursue free agency.
Prior to the last season, Harden signed a new contract to provide the Sixers with financial leeway. Harden reduced his salary to $33 million under the assumption the Sixers would compensate him during their upcoming contract talks. Harden and Morey had an unspoken understanding that he would either "get the bag" or the Sixers would trade him to the team of his choice.
However, Harden's trust in the Sixers crumbled when they indicated they weren't interested in a contract extension. If Harden selects free agency, the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic were two of the only clubs with the available cap space to offer him a max deal. The Rockets and Magic, who had been languishing near the bottom of the NBA standings in recent seasons, lacked the competitiveness necessary to contend for a championship.
In June, Harden opted for his $35.6 million player option if the Sixers agreed to trade him. Harden specifically requested a trade to the Clippers.
Harden: ‘Morey is a Liar’
During an appearance at an Adidas-sponsored camp in China on Monday, Harden lashed out about the recent news, declaring, "Daryl Morey is a liar. I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of."
Harden has limited options. He can't willfully sit out the upcoming season due to a provision in the collective bargaining agreement forbidding a player from coercing a team in the final year of his contract. If Harden tries to sit out, the terms of his contract extend to the subsequent season.
Harden will need to compete with the Sixers this season unless he exaggerates the seriousness of an injury. It's a crude trick some athletes used in the past. There's a glimmer of hope that Morey might change his mind regarding trading Harden before the deadline, and the expense for him may decline. Circumstances can shift during an NBA season. Injuries mount on frontrunners, and unexpected teams make a title run. Teams could end up being pressed to overpay for Harden.
Futures Market: Nick Nurse and the 76ers
With Embiid's championship window getting smaller each year, the Sixers' potential could be compromised due to the spat between Harden and Morey. The Sixers didn't make it to the NBA Finals in Rivers' tenure as their head coach. Rivers won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2007-08, yet his value dropped during his tenures with the Clippers and the 76ers.
76ers recruit offensive expert Nick Nurse as their new head coach. He won a championship with the Raptors in the 2018-2019 season and decided to join them because he thinks the 76ers have a team that can win a championship with Embiid and Harden at the forefront. They're currently rated as 15:1 (or +1500) favorites to win the 2023-24 NBA championship, ranking eighth on the overall futures board at DraftKings.
The Sixers haven't claimed a championship in 40 years since Julius "Dr. J" Irving led them to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals.
As +650 odds to win the Eastern Conference title, they're fourth in line on the futures board. Their last conference victory was in 2001.
The Boston Celtics are the leading contenders to win the Atlantic Division title with odds of -210, coming ahead of the 76ers (+280), New York Knicks (+800), Brooklyn Nets (+2500), and Toronto Raptors (+3500).
The Sixers managed 54 wins last season, but their predicted win total for this upcoming season is 49.5 games.
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Source: www.casino.org
