Sixers, Clippers Seem Nowhere Near James Harden Trade
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For the second time in three summers, the Philadelphia 76ers are headed towards a potential standoff with an All-Star guard. Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey made it clear recently that the approach with the James Harden trade request is the same as Ben Simmons’s was; the Sixers won’t be lowering their expectations for the sake of getting something done.
Did that cause the Los Angeles Clippers, Harden’s desired team, to change their personal approach to the situation? At this moment, not in the slightest.
Ever since Harden made his trade request, the Clippers were the top team in his market. While the New York Knicks were initially tossed in as a team that had interest, it became clear Los Angeles was the likely destination if the Sixers managed to strike a deal.
While initial reports hinted that the Sixers and the Clippers could potentially get something done before the start of free agency, the two teams haven’t found any common ground in negotiations as August approaches.
A couple of weeks back, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Daryl Morey and the Sixers’ asking price is “exorbitant” in Harden negotiations. While Morey’s known tactic is to start high in the beginning before attempting to reach common ground, a recent report hints that the Sixers don’t necessarily view the Clippers as serious negotiators at this time.
According to a report from Philly Voice, the Clippers have been “fairly unserious about what they’re willing to give up” in a trade for Harden. While the Clippers remained interested in Harden, the league’s assist leader in 2022-2023, his market value isn’t helping the Sixers in the slightest.
Heading into the 2023 offseason, Harden had two choices on the table. He could pick up his contract option of $35 million or hit the free agency market as an unrestricted prospect. The latter scenario was what everybody expected. Last-minute, everything changed.
The Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and the Sixers were the three teams expected to be bidding for Harden’s services for next season and beyond. The Suns dropped out early, as they shifted their focus over to trading for former Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal. The Rockets soon followed as they zeroed in on former Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet in free agency.
While the Sixers certainly want Harden back for next season, they weren’t willing to offer Harden the long-term deal he desired. By picking up his contract option, Harden locked in a high salary for next season. Now, he hopes to make that money in a Clippers uniform.
A lot can change for the Sixers and the Clippers over time. Considering the Sixers are low on leverage in this situation, as LA knows Harden is disgruntled and he’s ineligible for an extension, it’s a difficult sell for the Clippers to give up any notable assets for a 33-year-old one-year rental. Therefore, they’ll likely want to see what their roster for the 2023-2024 season looks like at the start of the year before deciding whether or not they should increase their offer for Harden.