Sixers' 'steep' asking price is making James Harden trade impossibly difficult

After failing to yield a trade offer they deemed worthy, the Philadelphia 76ers decided to halt trade talks surrounding James Harden earlier this month, planning for the disgruntled star to attend training camp come late September.

While the 33-year-old Harden is an aging star with a diminishing scoring output (21.0 ppg in 79 games as a Sixer), he remains an All-Star caliber player with a palatable $35.6M salary for the upcoming season — 28th-highest in the NBA according to HoopsHype. 

So, why was there so little movement on the trade market for Harden? According to ESPN, the Sixers have been extremely stringent during trade talks involving Harden. Philadelphia's "steep" asking price has deterred any potential suitors, with no team "willing, or able, to meet" their desired return. 

These reports echo Daryl Morey's comments from July when the Sixers president of basketball operation told 97.5 The Fanatic (via PhillyVoice) that if they weren't getting a "very good player" or future building blocks in exchange for Harden, the team would not act on a trade. 

Of course, Philadelphia's rigid trade demands have infuriated Harden, who publically called Morey a liar during a trip to China last week. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Harden's comments stem from Morey promising the team would trade him "quickly" after he exercised his $35.6M option for the 2023-24 season.