The divorce has been finalized between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers, but the damage it caused will never fully heal. After a series of events led to a fallout between Harden and 76ers GM Daryl Morey, Harden was separated from the team and was asked not to join them on the plan for their opening season road trip.
“When Harden showed up at the airport for the team flight, security informed him he was not on the manifest,” wrote Shelburne. “That inflamed the situation on both sides, sources said, and became what one source described as a “final straw” in the team’s efforts to reincorporate Harden. Two days later, trade discussions with the Clippers picked up again and a path to final separation began to emerge.”
It was Harden who set this course of action into motion, and it’s Harden who ultimately won when the trade to the Clippers was finalized. Thanks to his experiences in Houston and Brooklyn, Harden knew how to make things toxic and he used it to force the 76ers’ hand.
It Got Personal In Philly
After Harden took a pay cut to stick around, he came to believe that Morey promised him a max extension this offseason. But when that deal never came, Harden opted into his deal and requested a trade instead. Initially, Morey was reluctant to play along but when James referred to him as a “liar” this past summer, it intensified the situation beyond control.
Morey, who previously held a job for the Rockets, had a tight relationship with James and was part of the reason why he ended up in Philly in the first place. Now, however, Harden detests the man and insists that he never wants to see him again. It’s a messy situation all around, and perhaps the worst mess that Harden has created in his three trade requests so far. Going forward, the hope is that both sides can move on and that the Clippers can succeed where every other team failed so far.
Uncertain Future For The Clippers
Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook give the Clippers a solid foundation to compete in the 2023-24 season. With Harden in the mix, however, it could put them in a position to win it all. assuming Harden gets the start due to his shooting and ball-handling ability, it would open up the floor in massive ways for Kawhi and George. Off the bench, Westbrook could thrive with the ball and his hands and full control of the offense.
In the playoffs, however, many doubts begin to surface about this item. Besides Harden’s troubling postseason history, Paul George and Kawhi have both missed a lot of games due to injuries or other setbacks. Together, it’s hard to say how the new-look Clippers will stack up against the rest of the West but they have all the tools they need to succeed. Expected to join the squad this week, Harden adds even more firepower to their star-studded lineup. In 58 games last season, he averaged 21 points, 10.7 assists, and 1.2 steals on 44% shooting.
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