Kenyon Martin has weighed in on the ongoing James Harden saga, as the 76ers star awaits a trade to a new franchise that will extend him on a max contract after Philly refused to do so. Martin thinks Harden should be real with himself and realize he’s not that elite anymore.
“If I’m James Harden, I can’t expect them people to give me another five years for 250 million dollars, dog! Could give a f**k what he promise me at the dinner table. If I’m being honest, he tell me that sh*t, I’m leaving that meeting thinkin’ he’s a f**kin’ liar… If I’m being honest with myself in his situation, everything I’ve put on the table, why would someone sign me for another five years with the maximum amount of money they can give me? We’re naive.”
"If I'm James Harden, I can't expect them people to give me another five years for 250 million dollars, dog! Could give a f**k what he tell me at the dinner table. If I'm being honest…He tell me that sh*t, I'm leaving that meeting thinkin' he's a f**kin' liar."
Kenyon Martin… pic.twitter.com/d8iiWsNjvm
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) October 18, 2023
Gilbert Arenas made a good point in response to Martin, saying that Harden’s last season’s averages of 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists, which saw him lead the league in assists does imply he’s still worthy of a max contract.
Given the price the 76ers are holding him for, even the team agrees he has a lot of value still left to provide.
Kenyon Martin Doesn’t Want The Clippers To Trade For James Harden
Since Harden made his trade request at the start of the offseason, only one NBA team has been linked with him. That team are the Clippers, who could acquire a win-now star like Harden on the same contract timeline as their co-stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Kenyon Martin believes this would be a very bad decision for the Clippers organization.
“Does he make them a better basketball team? … Not better than they are now. I like James but we’re talking basketball here. I ain’t got time to be f***ing gambling and experimenting s*** right now if I’m the Clippers if I’m being honest. I don’t.”
On the contrary to what Martin said, this may be the perfect season to gamble and experiment. The team is heading into a new era next season when they move to their new arena. Going win-now by swinging for Harden makes perfect sense, as the Clippers have the flexibility to move on from it as soon as the summer of 2024.
If they don’t, what have we even seen from the Clippers since 2019 that fills us with confidence that they can win as presently constructed? Harden has a poor track record, but so do the Clippers, so this marriage could be beneficial for both.
Daryl Morey Has Set A Big Price On James Harden
A report from The Athletic revealed that the 76ers want at least Terance Mann and two first-round picks from the Clippers for Harden. With the team’s reluctance to part with Mann, Daryl Morey even asked the franchise to give him Paul George instead, showing his level of seriousness with these conversations.
“Lawrence Frank reiterated the team’s stance that Mann would not be part of their offer. Morey, those people say, expressed his disbelief and accused the Clippers of being ‘unserious’ about getting a deal done. He even quipped that they should just trade Clippers star Paul George for Harden if they were so determined to keep all of their lesser assets — a request that was immediately denied.”
Morey can only dream of netting a return like Paul George for Harden at the lowest-value point of his career. Hopefully, he does find something suitable to keep Joel Embiid happy and their contending hopes alive.
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