The Philadelphia 76ers just lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener, a game they likely could have won if James Harden was on the court. His absence has prompted the league to begin an investigation into the matter, as Harden missed a nationally televised game, which isn’t allowed under the new Player Participation Policy.
“We are looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation.”
Harden will likely not face punishment for this, as he tried to rejoin the team before they left for the road trip. However, 76ers security personnel didn’t let Harden board the team plane, with the star expected to rejoin the squad after their next game against the Raptors.
Given Harden did try to make himself available for the game and was asked to sit out by the 76ers, this could have a very interesting outcome for the franchise. If the NBA decides to hand out a punishment, the 76ers and Daryl Morey will be the ones solely responsible for dealing with the repercussions. If they’re accosted by the league after every big game about why Harden didn’t play, it at least may end up speeding up a trade away from the franchise.
James Harden Had A Legitimate Reason To Miss Practice
The reason the 76ers left without Harden was because he absconded from practice for 10 days. While it was related to him being upset about not being traded, there were personal factors at work as well. Harden’s mother has reportedly been unwell, with it also being reported that Harden was dealing with a personal matter.
“Harden’s return is uncertain because he’s tending to his mom who is ill, I’m told. The mindset of the 76ers PG is that the health of his mother comes first. ‘He’s going through it,’ a source with knowledge shares. ‘He loves to compete & he is in the best shape of his life. But he feels a sense of betrayal from Philly.’ That betrayal stems from Harden publicly calling Sixers team President Daryl Morey ‘a liar.'”
The source of the quote can be debated by many, with Scoop B having a mixed record when it comes to news like this. But if his mother is genuinely unwell, everyone should be understanding of the situation. Not everything is done to force trades after all.
James Harden Trade Talks Once Again Break Down
Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Clippers, the only team to have expressed interest in Harden, have decided to pause their negotiations with the 76ers. The team will be looking to see if their roster, as presently constructed, can be competitive with healthy versions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
“I’m told that with the start of the season now, at least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden. They’re essentially pausing them.”
Harden wants to join the Clippers more than the Clippers want to acquire him. With no other team on the market for him, I wonder what Daryl Morey is waiting for. The likelihood a magic trade will emerge by February is slim, but not improbable. But if the Clippers move on before that, Morey will have to salary dump Harden, which would likely cost him his job.
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