One of the best players in NBA history doesn’t understand why James Harden wants to get traded by the Philadelphia 76ers. During an interview with Howard Beck of GQ, Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady ripped Harden for requesting a trade from the Sixers.
“That makes zero sense to me,” McGrady said about Harden’s trade request. “Not only that, but I look at all the teammates he’s played with. James has probably played with more Hall of Famers than anybody in the league, and he doesn’t have a ring to show for it. I don’t know what he’s looking for.
“And maybe there’s some internal bulls--t that is going on that we don’t know about. Because it doesn’t make any sense to me to leave the MVP, and the Eastern Conference, where you have a shot to at least play for a championship. It’s got to be something deeper than what you know. Get over it, man.”
Harden has removed everything related to the Sixers from his social media pages. The 2017-18 MVP wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers so he can play with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
After Harden learned about the Sixers’ plans to not give him a max contract this offseason, he opted into his player option for next season and requested a trade. The 10-time All-Star believes he should be compensated fairly after averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists last season while shooting 44.1% from the floor, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
Harden is extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the franchise by requesting a trade. There was initially strong optimism on Harden’s side that he would be traded to the Clippers since both Leonard and George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining them in Los Angeles.
However, the Clippers and Sixers have made no progress on a Harden trade.
Harden intends to “never wear” a Sixers uniform again, sources told NBA Analysis Network. Philadelphia, though, is comfortable taking its time with Harden’s trade request since Harden doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
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