James Harden was a no-show Monday as the 76ers convened for training camp, but he appears to be no closer to getting the trade he wants.
The 76ers have “no traction” on a Harden trade with the Clippers, where Harden wants to play, or any other team, according to ESPN.
“He’s not here today,” Sixers president Daryl Morey said Monday at media day. “He continues to seek a trade and we’re working with his representation to resolve that in the best way for the 76ers and hopefully all parties.”
However, Morey isn’t writing off the possibility of Harden hitting the court with Philadelphia.
“He’s on the roster. We’re excited for him, to help him if he chooses that,” Morey said.
Harden’s attendance at Sixers camp this week at Colorado State is still up in the air.
Morey, when asked if Harden would be fined for not showing up, said the team would “treat James like every other player on the roster as required by the CBA.”
Harden is no stranger to receiving fines by the league.
The 34-year-old was fined $100,000 after calling Morey a “liar” while at a press event in China with Adidas basketball in August.
“Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said at the time.
ESPN previously reported that Harden, who exercised a $35.6 million option for this season, was upset with Morey over not getting a max contract.
“I don’t think I have to interpret it,” Morey said of Harden’s harsh words. “I mean, I think he said what he meant. I think that was well reported on. And, obviously attacks. I haven’t responded to that because I think it falls flat on its face. 20 years of work in the league. I always follow through on everything. Every top agent knows that. Everyone in the league knows that you can’t operate in this job without that.
“So privately, I appreciated like all the key people in the league reaching out to me and knowing obviously, that that’s that’s not true. So like I said before, obviously, it was disappointing that he chose to handle it that way.”
The 10-time All-Star has a history of essentially forcing his way out with trades out of Houston and Brooklyn, and now seems intent on adding the Sixers to the list of teams past.
When asked about the situation with Harden, 76ers star Joel Embiid looks at commonalities rather than differences.
“I think it’s been unfortunate what has been going on,” Embiid said. “The goal is to be together and try to win a championship.”
Harden was acquired by the 76ers in the blockbuster deal that sent Ben Simmons to the Nets during the 2021-22 season.
When Harden was traded to Philadelphia, Simmons was also requesting a trade after having a tense relationship with the team and staff.
Needless to say, Embiid needs reliable teammates to get the job done.
“James is a really good player. We love him on the team,” said Embiid, the two-time NBA scoring champion. “If he’s here, great. We’d love to have him. If not, we’ve still got a job to do.”
The Sixers fell to the Celtics in a seven-game second-round series last year, the third straight season Philadelphia has been bounced in the conference semifinals.
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