The Los Angeles Clippers are the only team interested in trading for Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden, sources told NBA Analysis Network. Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers and wants to get sent to the Clippers.
The Clippers and Sixers have talked about a Harden trade, but Philadelphia’s asking price for Harden is steep and Los Angeles has thus far not been willing to trade multiple draft picks for Harden. The Clippers also don’t want to part ways with Terance Mann, a player the Sixers want, sources said.
Harden appeared in 58 games for the Sixers last season. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. The 10-time All-Star recorded 36 double-doubles and five triple-doubles and led the NBA in assists per game.
According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Harden felt Daryl Morey ghosted him before free agency started. Rather than wait for Morey and the Sixers to present whatever offer they had come up with once free agency opened on July 1, Harden decided to pick up his $35.6 million player option before the June 30 deadline and request a trade.
The Sixers were stunned at Harden’s decision, insisting to him and his representatives they had been distant only because they were hit with the largest tampering fine in NBA history and that they had every intention of re-signing him as soon as the rules allowed. However, it was too late.
Harden was fined $100,000 by the NBA for calling Morey “a liar” during his Adidas tour in China. The NBA launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Harden’s public admonishment of Morey. As part of the investigation, Harden told NBA investigators he called Morey “a liar” because he wasn’t traded “quickly” after opting into his player option for the 2023-24 season.
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