The Philadelphia 76ers have made plenty of headlines throughout the offseason, particularly surrounding the futures of James Harden and Joel Embiid. It’s led to speculation as to whether or not the Sixers should run it back or blow it up. The latest rumors from Philadelphia involve an investigation around Harden’s recent comments, what Daryl Morey is looking for in a Harden trade, and several teams considering trading for Embiid.
NBA Rumors: James Harden, Daryl Morey, and Joel Embiid
NBA Launches Inquiry Into James Harden’s Comments
According to ESPN, the NBA launched an inquiry into Harden’s scathing comments about Morey and the 76ers. During an event in China, Harden called Morey a “liar” and vowed that he’d “never be part of an organization that [Morey is] a part of.” During a recent interview with KHOU 11 sports reporter Jason Bristol, he doubled down, saying it’s too late to repair his relationship with the 76ers.
Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelbourne described the exact details of the league’s investigation:
“The league office is believed to be pursuing an understanding of whether Harden was portending a 2023-24 holdout in violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement or had been referencing past contract discussions with the organization that might constitute salary cap circumvention, sources said.”
It was also reported that neither Harden nor the Sixers would violate league guidelines. Instead, the NBA is looking to understand the motivation behind the ten-time All-Star’s admonishment of his team’s president.
Daryl Morey Seeking First-Round Picks in Return for Harden
Morey is still seeking more first-round picks in return for Harden and is not interested in Los Angeles Clippers forward Terance Mann.
Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports reported that Morey is eyeing the Clippers’ future first-rounders in 2027 and 2028. Those picks are available due to the league’s “Seven Year Rule,” which states that teams cannot trade picks more than seven years in advance.
Goodwill noted that Morey is looking at future draft capital in case the Sixers decide to rebuild. It’s puzzling why he wouldn’t want Mann, who makes sense as a solid role player. Last season, the 26-year-old wing averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on 52/39/78 splits. He’s also on a team-friendly contract, making $10.5 million next season and $11.4 million in 2024-25. Mann’s ability to thrive as a bench player or starter adds to his value. He’s someone the Sixers should still consider if trade talks with the Clippers open up again.
Knicks and Heat Eyeing Trade for Joel Embiid
Finally, Embiid could have several suitors if Morey and the 76ers slam the reset button. A source told Goodwill that the New York Knicks and Miami Heat are “keeping an eye on” the situation between the Sixers and Embiid.
During an interview at the UNINTERRUPTED Sports Film Festival in early July, Embiid said he wants to do “whatever it takes” to win a championship, “whether it’s Philly or anywhere else.” Embiid’s cryptic comments have quickly led to speculation regarding his future with the Sixers. But according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the reigning MVP had no conversations with the team about leaving. Amick added: “In fact, the organization’s belief remains that Embiid would love to go the way of Dirk Nowitzki or Kobe Bryant and stay with one team for his entire career.”
If Embiid’s stance suddenly changes and he decides to jump ship, the Knicks and Heat make sense as potential destinations.
Miami has yet to make any progress with the Portland Trail Blazers on a deal for Damian Lillard. As a result, they could easily pivot to Embiid if they choose to do so. New York, meanwhile, has been stockpiling assets for a superstar trade to get serious about contending and speed up the pursuit of their first title since 1973.
Both teams have appealing players and picks to get a deal done. They have more than enough salaries to match Embiid’s $47 million next season. They also own multiple first-round picks that fall within the “Seven Year Rule.” It’s a matter of how the Sixers approach the situation and if they’re willing to admit that “The Process” has finally failed.
The Last Word
The 76ers remain a team to watch as the offseason winds down for the right and wrong reasons. On the one hand, the Harden situation could resolve itself and the team could run it back and surprise us all. However, Morey could also finally trade one (or both) of Harden and Embiid to start over and find another way to get back into contention. The bottom line is it’s a polarizing time in Philadelphia right now. Fans should pay attention to how the turmoil affects the team in training camp.
