Trades can significantly impact and reshape a team’s fate for a new season. James Harden’s strong relationship with the now Philadelphia 76ers president, Daryl Morey, had motivated him to join the franchise in 2022. However, the relationship soured after Harden publicly called Morey a liar and pledged not to be part of an organization led by him.
Consequently, James Harden demanded a trade due to the strained relationship with the 76ers’ President. Despite this, the Philadelphia 76ers have not yet facilitated the trade. The slow trade negotiations with the LA Clippers for the 76ers’ star guard have reportedly frustrated the Sixers front office.
Morey proposes Paul George swap for Harden
The President of the 76ers, Daryl Morey, has declined to offer James Harden a long-term contract, a deal the star believes he deserves after his performance with the Sixers last season. Reportedly, Daryl Morey and the Clippers are not having productive trade negotiations for James Harden.
Morey is allegedly frustrated with the Clippers for excluding Terance Mann from the deal. Consequently, Morey has requested Paul George, as the Clippers seem determined to keep Mann, according to an NBA Central post on X.
“Lawrence Frank reiterated the team’s stance that Mann would not be part of their offer. Morey, those people say, expressed his disbelief and accused the Clippers of being ‘unserious’ about getting a deal done. He even quipped that they should just trade Clippers star Paul George for Harden if they were so determined to keep all of their lesser assets — a request that was immediately denied.”
Morey calling the Clippers unserious in trade negotiations is something that is rare to hear and the GM seems to have the worse off-season dealing with his players compared to other GMs. Mann who averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 23.1 minutes per game last for the Clippers is most likely to be protected by the franchise, as he could be the tool to compete for the title in the new season. Morey blowing up the deal might be disastrous for his team, as James Harden has reportedly skipped practice with the team.
James Harden declares relationship with Morey beyond repair
While James Harden has continued his tendency to disengage from a team when he wishes to leave, the star has characterized his longstanding relationship with Morey as irreparable. He publicly called out the 76ers president during an event in China, stating, “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be part of an organization he’s involved with. Let me repeat that: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be part of an organization he’s involved with.”
The star guard revealed his stand during his first public comments after rejoining the team recently, he also stated that his plan is to play basketball while speaking with reporters after a practice lately. When James Harden asked directly whether he thought things could get patched up with the 76ers president. “No,” Harden said, Harden also made a point of never saying Morey’s name again but only referring to him as “front office.” Could this be the end of a relationship since the blockbuster trade with Oklahoma City Thunder 11 years ago?
