In a surprising turn of events, James Harden, who had previously strained his relationship with 76ers General Manager Daryl Morey by openly referring to him as “a liar” during the summer, made an unexpected appearance at the team’s training camp.
This unanticipated move has raised eyebrows, especially considering Harden’s steadfast request to be traded to the LA Clippers.
Harden’s presence at the training camp may seem contradictory to his trade request, but it is fueled by one simple reason—financial considerations.
The former NBA MVP is avoiding a potentially costly standoff similar to the one that unfolded with Ben Simmons last season.
Simmons failed to report to the 76ers’ training camp after requesting a trade, ultimately costing him approximately $20 million.
Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic shed light on Harden’s motivation for joining the camp, stating that he hopes to avoid the financial penalties Simmons faced.
Additionally, Harden remains optimistic about the possibility of a trade to the Clippers and believes it is in his best interest not to become a distraction during the process.
According to league sources, the Clippers are diligently working to facilitate a trade for Harden. They have engaged in discussions with multiple teams to explore pick swaps that would provide additional draft capital to strengthen their trade offer.
In July, the Clippers offered an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap, and salaries in exchange for Harden, but the 76ers’ demands have set a much higher threshold.
Philadelphia has expressed interest in fifth-year forward Terance Mann and multiple first-round picks as part of any potential trade with the Clippers, further complicating negotiations.
