James Harden hasn’t backed down his trade demand with just a few days left for the regular NBA season to kick start. Albeit the attitude shown by one of the Sixers’ top talents has not changed. The time now seems to be running out on the 76ers who are yet to fulfill James Harden’s trade demand.
However, with the Clippers being far behind in meeting the Sixers’ demand which is negotiated by Daryl Morey, the 76ers might be starting the regular season with Harden being a part of their roster which would be rather risky given the player has been only half committed attending practice sessions.
Harden attended just one practice in the past 14 days
The Philadelphia 76ers’ James Harden’s future remains uncertain as trade discussions continue to linger. Harden, who requested a trade this summer, has had limited on-court participation during the team’s training camp.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Harden has attended just one team practice scrimmage in the past two weeks, stating, “While professional and engaged when present, James Harden has not attended any of the 76ers’ preseason games and has participated in just one team practice scrimmage over 14 days of training camp, sources say.”
This lack of on-court involvement raises questions about his immediate contributions to the team as the new season approaches. It seems that Harden’s focus remains on facilitating a trade, with the LA Clippers showing interest but struggling to meet the Sixers’ high asking demand. The Sixers are likely to explore their options as the season progresses, hoping to find a resolution well before the trade deadline on February 9th.
Clippers hold ground against Daryl Morey’s demands for James Harden trade
The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers are engaged in trade talks for James Harden as the NBA regular season draws near, but the negotiations have made little progress. These negotiations, according to The Athletic, are still in progress, but there are rumors that James Harden is going to start the season with the Sixers.
This is especially true given that the Clippers are not willing to agree to Daryl Morey’s demands, particularly the ones that involve Terance Mann and additional draft money.
Reported on October 5th by Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Clippers’ offer for Harden includes an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap, and players, most notably Marcus Morris and Robert Covington. However, the Sixers have set a higher bar, seeking multiple first-round picks and Terance Mann in the deal.
To ease the offer, the Clippers are shopping their 2028 first-round pick to other teams. But if Morey insists on both Mann and multiple picks, a resolution remains elusive. James Harden who is yet to actively participate in the Sixers’ preseason games, shootarounds, or live competitions during training camp will be on the 76ers roster, leaving his immediate playing status uncertain as trade talks continue. The situation remains in flux for both the player and the team as the regular season approaches.
