James Harden Fined Max $100K for Daryl Morey ‘Liar!’ Trade Tirade

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of!” Rockets ex James Harden earns a max fine in Philly for his tirade.

The brilliantly talented James Harden has pulled a few stunts in his day, a fact that Houston Rockets followers know better than most.

But this latest episode is one that is earning him punishment from the NBA.

Harden’s recent public rant against Philadelphia 76ers GM Daryl Morey - the All-Star guard calling the Sixers' executive a “liar” while pushing his “trade-me” agenda - meant on NBA probe into the matter … 

And the outburst has now earned Harden a $100,000 fine - the maximum punishment that the NBA can hand down.

Harden and Morey both have their Houston Rockets backgrounds, of course, but their shared his rut hasn’t helped settle the matter that is based, rumor has it, on Harden having opted into his $35.6 million player option (less than the max he was eligible for) on the assumption of a trade promise from Morey.

Here is what Sixers star Harden said publicly about his boss in Philly, Morey …

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he's a part of.”

The NBA cannot hide the fact that its league is largely run on the demands of the league’s stars and their powerful agents. But that is supposed to be a sort of open secret … and James Harden - who reportedly told NBA investigators that Morey promised him a trade - is now being punished for airing the NBA’s dirty laundry.

The 76ers surely plan to trade him but are looking for the best possible package in return for the former MVP, with only the Clippers seemingly involved in the chase for the services of the controversial Harden.

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered pro sports since 1983 and is the Texas-based author of two best-selling books.