As the war rages on between James Harden and 76ers GM Daryl Morey, the reigning NBA MVP finds himself caught in the middle of an impossible situation. But after Harden’s latest no-show during team practice on Wednesday, Joel Embiid felt compelled to speak out and make his peace on the subject.
“I didn’t know if anything was going on because he’s been here,” Embiid said. “He wasn’t here today, so obviously I think he probably had something important to do or something came up. But guys know what it is.”
Joel Embiid on Harden: “I didn’t know if anything was going on because he’s been here. He wasn’t here today, so obviously I think he probably had something important to do or something came up. But guys know what it is.” pic.twitter.com/Pnhmm7Bpll
— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) October 18, 2023
The 76ers have been hanging to take control of the East for years, but they have yet to make the Conference Finals with Embiid. Last season, after finishing 3rd in the East, the Sixers flamed out in the second round despite going up 3-2 over the Celtics. This campaign, with Harden’s ongoing situation still not resolved, his antics threaten to put the entire operation at risk. Somehow, Joel is keeping his cool through all the noise but one has to wonder how much he’s willing to endure before his patience wears thin.
James Harden Is Making A Huge Mistake
Since Harden was with the team at some point during training camp, it was believed that he was set to start the season for the 76ers. But after it was reported that Harden had only been to one practice in two weeks for the Sixers, it exposed his true intentions toward the organization. The question now is, how will this all play out?
For Harden, he could face serious implications for waging war against another team. At 34 years old, the Beard has been on the decline for several years now and his history of breakups in Houston and Brooklyn has given him a reputation for being entirely unpredictable and totally unreliable. The worst part for Harden is that, after opting into the final year of his deal, he may have no choice but to show up and play for them anyway. If he continues to hold out and skip team activities, it could jeopardize his eligibility for free agency next summer. At the very least, it will give teams major hesitation before signing him to any contract in the future.
What’s Next For The 76ers?
The situation has gone completely off the rails now, and it’s impossible to predict what it will look like when the dust finally settles. In the short term, all that the Sixers can do is wait this out and hope that the combined efforts of Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey can keep their season alive until a resolution is reached.
But don’t hold your breath on a trade to the Clippers. As Morey has shown with Ben Simmons, he’s not afraid to get uncomfortable with his players and he’s not going to accept a discount trade offer just because Harden wants him to. Over the next few days and weeks, Philly will consider all their options and they will only move when/if it benefits them. So, with or without Harden, the 76ers have a plan to save their situation and Embiid is going to try his best to carry them through it.
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