Just because James Harden has demanded a trade for the third time in his career, it doesn’t mean he’ll get one. Despite reports of the relationship between Harden and Daryl Morey, the president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, being frayed, talks of a Harden trade have yet to go anywhere.
As the summer rages on, while the basketball community waits to see what happens with Damian Lillard, Harden now becomes another focal point, especially for teams seeking All-Star talent.
But the Sixers are eagerly trying to reach the NBA Finals too. They’ve even gone to the lengths of firing Doc Rivers and hiring Nick Nurse to help reach their goals. Led by Joel Embiid, this isn’t a team that is trying to do anything but win an NBA championship.
Yet, if Harden is insistent upon playing for a new team, expect the 76ers to prioritize pieces that can help them win right away as opposed to in a few years. But even if they’re ready to part with Harden, it doesn’t sound like his trade market is red-hot.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the trade market for Harden is currently nonexistent. Mannis suggests the 76ers have been actively trying to trade the ten-time All-Star for several weeks, but there simply isn’t a market for his services.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers, who are reportedly the only team Harden wants to join, are interested, but not at the current cost. Speculation points to the Sixers asking for a trade return revolving around Terance Mann and whatever first-round picks Philadelphia has to offer.
Yet, the Clippers feel that price is just too rich to pay. Ultimately, if the Clippers don’t budge, we could be looking at Harden starting the season in Philadelphia again, but as we’ve seen before, it doesn’t mean he’ll end the year there too.
Related: NBA Rookie of the Year 2023-24: Top NBA ROY odds and candidates to win, including Chet Holmgren