The Philadelphia 76ers are in an odd place, with James Harden opting into his contract but also requesting that he be traded to another franchise.
Joel Embiid and James Harden together haven’t set the NBA alight, but the duo would ensure the Sixers remained a contender. Now, all that is up in the air, and according to reports, it’s all thanks to a decision by Sixers’ President Daryl Morey.
“Sources say Morey insisted that he was choosing not to discuss free agency before it was permitted by league rules,” The Athletic reported. “Morey’s choice to keep Harden and his camp in the dark regarding the Sixers’ plans had everything to do with Harden’s choice to ask out.
“Harden is, according to sources close to him, extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the organization.”
Daryl Morey seems to have misstepped massively in this situation. James Harden is not happy at all if these reports are to be believed. And if he is not cooperative, they will struggle to find the right trade for him as well, they could risk losing him for very little return. This situation could potentially end up costing Morey his job.
Philadelphia 76ers Apparently Didn’t See A Future With James Harden
Considering that James Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game last season, it’s hard to imagine why the Sixers would be so casual about this. On top of that the Beard and Daryl Morey have a great relationship too, which makes this all the more baffling. But one report, in particular, might explain it, with noises around the league that the Sixers didn’t see a future with Harden involved.
“The 76ers made it clear throughout the process that the franchise did not see a long-term future with Harden, sources said.”
Whether they meant to do this or not, the situation has left them in a weird spot. The onus will now be on Morey to get a serious return for Harden. Considering that James Harden is a free agent next summer, any team giving up assets for him will want to know if he will re-sign, meaning that he will be crucial to the process. Hopefully, the Sixers and Morey can work their way out of this one.
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