After another disappointing finish to a promising season and James Harden did what James Harden does, he asked for a trade. I don’t mean that as a shot at Harden, but I don’t think anyone was shocked to hear he wanted out of Philly.
Not because the situation in Philly is bad or the team is on a downward trend. On the contrary, Philly has a strong core with last season’s MVP Joel Embiid, a star in the making in Tyrese Maxey, good role players, and a new championship-proven coach in Nick Nurse. Yet Harden is done with the city of brotherly love, or is he?
On Monday, August 14 a video surfaced showing Harden delivering a clear and concise message “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” This is a direct shot at Morey not at the 76ers.
Follow the money
To understand what is going on with Harden we need to revisit his previous trades. In 2012 James Harden left the Oklahoma City Thunder. A team fresh off a trip to the finals, to chase dollar bills and get paid. Playing time was a factor as he would still be the sixth man playing behind Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
However, that wasn’t the main problem. OKC wanted to keep him, but they couldn’t pay him what he wanted. The Rockets meanwhile were willing to pay him every dime they had. OKC offered him the biggest contract to a sixth man in history. At the end he went with the money and got traded to the Houston Rockets.
The James Harden Way
After signing a max extension with the Rockets, Harden turned the franchise into contenders and himself into a superstar. In return Harden wanted the Rockets to do things his way.
Demanding upgrades every offseason and threatening the team with trade demands if he didn’t get his way. Make no mistake about it, he called the shots in Houston. From coaches getting fired and teammates getting traded, Harden was in on it.
When he didn’t get his way, the team had to deal with him acting out. He missed practices, stayed out partying, and violating NBA COVID-19 protocols, while showing off on social media. They put up with it because on the court Harden was one of the top players in the league.
They didn’t miss the playoffs and he won an MVP in 2018. Everything the Rockets did on and off the court went through Harden. Things fell apart once the team’s flexibility was crippled because of his demands. Not long after Harden requested a trade, to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pecking Order
The Rockets traded Harden to the Nets in January 2021. Forming a big three with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving that many expected would lead to a championship. No longer did he have to be the main guy, Kyrie, and Durant could help carry the load. Things didn’t work out and Harden wanted out just over a year later.
He claims the Nets were a dysfunctional organization and Kyrie’s off the court issues were part of his decision. But under it all was the fact that the Nets had two big names already ahead of him. They were not catering to Harden’s wishes.
Add Durant’s unhappiness with Harden’s poor physical shape to the mix and you got an unhappy Harden. There’s no denying the Nets were a mess. But Harden’s place as third in the pecking order played a part in his trade request to Philly.
Old Friends
Philly offered a chance to reunite with friends Daryl Morey and Sixers governor Michael Rubin. With an already talented roster, Harden was the perfect fit. Playing alongside another MVP-caliber player in Joel Embiid, he no longer needed to carry the team. And with friends in management, he would be able to get his way. Everything was going his way.
With one year left on his contract, the only thing left was to get paid. This is where things are getting messy in Philadelphia. Harden wants more than the one-year, $35.6 million player option he exercised this summer. He wants a big multi-year contract, and the Sixers are not on the same page.
Harden requested a trade in hopes of acquiring the contract elsewhere. The 76ers tried but they have shifted their approach and decided not to trade him. Now James Harden is calling Daryl Morey a liar.
The James Harden Special
I don’t know what promises were made, I do know Morey has a job to do for the Sixers. Trading Harden for less than equal value isn’t wise. Even if he wanted to, the new CBA doesn’t help contenting teams make this kind of trade.
Giving Harden who turns 34 next week, a multi-year contract, hurts the Sixer’s ability to move him or add talent. However, letting Harden hold out and not play this season could work in their favor.
The Sixers don’t have to do anything, and Harden will get fined and lose money if he doesn’t play. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, if he decides not to play, the Sixers have control over his future. Harden will not be able to play basketball professionally unless they say so, thanks to a CBA clause.
He’s used to it, but he won’t get his way this time. Unless the Sixers read into the phrase, “I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of” (Morey). They could give in to Harden and fire Morey, but they would just be letting him have his way, again.
