If you had any doubts about James Harden’s feelings toward the 76ers, one glimpse at his recent press conference should put them to bed once and for all. Speaking honestly about the drama that played out this summer, and his ongoing crisis with Daryl Morey, Harden put all the blame on the front office for betraying his trust and falling back on their word.
“Just to the fans, man, I appreciate the support and love,” Harden said. “This is definitely a difficult time. For me, it’s just trusting the people that you’ve known over a decade. When I got traded here, my whole thing was I wanted to retire a Sixer. I wanted to be here and retire a Sixer, and the front office didn’t have that in their plan. It’s really out of my control. It’s something that I didn’t want to happen…”
Sixers never wanted James Harden Long term ?👀
“When I got traded here, my whole thing is I wanted to retire a Sixer… And the front office didn’t have that in their future plans.”
(Via @KyleNeubeck)
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) October 13, 2023
The 76ers enjoyed great success last season before their collapse in the playoffs, but his partnership with Embiid wasn’t enough to smooth things over for Harden. After accepting a pay cut the year before, James felt he was owed a proper extension from Daryl Morey, but one never came. In the weeks that followed, Harden has taken an aggressive assault against the GM, going so far as to publicly expose him as a “liar.”
Things Are Personal In Philly
Morey and Harden initially formed their connection back in Houston, when James was among the leading MVP candidates as a member of the Rockets. By the time the pair reunited in Philadelphia, Harden was a shell of himself and a far cry from the guy he used to be. Despite this fact, Morey bet on Harden early on and likely promised the All-Star guard a long-term deal that he tried to take back this summer.
For Harden, the move was akin to the ultimate betrayal and it wasn’t long into the summer before he turned in his latest trade demand. While we know now that the Clippers are actively working on a deal for James, it could take some time to secure a trade and it leaves Harden with more than enough time to make things as toxic as possible for his current team. Already, he’s off to a powerful start by not only threatening to sabotage the season but going so far as to tag Daryl Morey as a liar for the NBA community.
The Title Window Has Closed For The 76ers
Over the years, Philly has had plenty of chances to make strides in the East. From Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler to Ben Simmons and James Harden, the 76ers have had no shortage of star power over the years, but they seem to struggle to keep them for long periods of time. Heading into the new season, it’s hard to say where they stand given the uncertainties they are currently facing. But after years of trying, and failing, to bring home a title, it’s possible that the best days are already over for this version of the 76ers.
With career averages of 27.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, there is no doubt that Embiid can carry Philly into the playoffs, but hope for a postseason breakthrough is low in the aftermath of their meltdown against Boston this past May. In fact, the growing feeling is that a Joel Embiid trade is inevitable as the path to a title rapidly narrows for the Sixers.
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