James Harden’s stance hasn’t changed.
Two weeks after Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden exercised his $35.6 million dollar player option with the team and subsequently requested a trade on June 29, the guard is still looking to be dealt, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“He still wants to leave Philadelphia,” Amick wrote. “He’s still upset with how [Sixers GM Daryl] Morey handled his situation heading into possible free agency last month.
“And even with the recent revelation that Harden attended the same NBPA party as Sixers co-star Joel Embiid and former Sixers owner Michael Rubin in Vegas, he’s still determined to start next season in a Clippers jersey.”
Harden is on the third trade request of his career and it is well-documented what happens when he is unhappy in a situation.
During the last few weeks of his tenure with the Houston Rockets, Harden showed up to training camp late after partying in Atlanta and Las Vegas and also looked to be way out of shape.
Similarly, prior to his stint in Philadelphia, the former MVP sat out games in Brooklyn and publicly let on that he was unhappy with his situation with the Nets and wanted to move on so Morey could have leverage in the deal.
Despite playing with NBA MVP Joel Embiid and having two opportunities to send Philadelphia to its first Eastern Conference finals since Allen Iverson was on the court over 20 years ago, Harden continually seems discontent with his situations.
Although Harden has requested to be traded to the Clippers, Morey and the Sixers haven’t made any significant progress in getting a deal done as the team wants the guard to stay.
The 10-time All-Star averaged 21 points and 10.7 assists during the 2022-23 NBA season and was a key part in helping Embiid win his long-awaited MVP award.
But Harden knows how to make his way off a roster and onto another, so there won’t be many shocked faces if he finds his way in a Clipper uniform before training camp.
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