- James Harden believed he was up for a max deal with 76ers this summer
- Daryl Morey low-balled Harden’s offer leading up to free agency
- 76ers guard feels betrayed after being denied max contract from 76ers
The source of contentment for James Harden has been a mystery since he formally requested a trade earlier this summer. But in the aftermath of Harden’s latest antics, NBA insiders are finally getting a glimpse at where it all went wrong.
“Whether Morey promised it or not, multiple sources indicated Harden was under the impression he would opt out and re-sign with Philadelphia on a max deal this summer,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.
After Harden took a pay cut to re-sign with the Sixers last summer, it seems he was privately promised that he’d re-sign on a max extension the next year. Needless to say, that obviously didn’t happen, and Harden views it as the ultimate betrayal of trust.
Things have gotten personal between the two now, and it’s fair to say the bridge has been burned. But who’s in the wrong here? On the one hand, if Morey made a promise that he failed to deliver, then Harden has every right to have a problem with it.
But if you’re the Sixers, why pay Harden maximum money when no other team is willing to do it? If you’re Morey, even if that money was promised, would it not be detrimental to give James a huge contract when no other teams were all that interested in signing him anyway? Even now, Harden has nowhere to go since there’s no GM willing to make a substantial offer.
It’s a complicated situation for sure, but there’s no fixing this now. The only way out is to pull the plug, but that resolution could take months to play out, and things are likely to get much worse before they get better.
Where Will Harden Play Next Season?
Without any question that Harden has likely played his last game for the 76ers, we can only guess where he might play next. As the only team on his preferred destinations list the Clippers are in the driver’s seat for James, but it’s no secret that their enthusiasm to pull off a deal is extremely low.
Going forward, we can probably expect further action from Harden as he aims to make life hell for the 76ers. With only one year left on his deal, Morey might have no choice but to trade him if he wants to at least get something back for the former MVP.
But if Harden is still on the roster come opening night, it may be a while before we see him in action again. Harden, unlike other players, knows how to disrupt an organization from the inside like true pro and he’s only just getting started.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
