Philadelphia 76ers training camp opened up in Colorado last week, and to the surprise of some, James Harden was in attendance with great energy. In August, Harden called general manager Daryl Morey a “liar” and said he’d “never be part of an organization he’s a part of.” Harden still desires to play for the Clippers, but for now, he seems to be working with Philadelphia (at least his teammates).
James Harden Cordial at Training Camp; Still Wants Trade to LAC
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Harden’s Approach
The James Harden news blast has been intriguing in the past few weeks, as expected considering he’s made his third trade request in as many years. Given his unorthodox methods to pursue those requests, all eyes were certainly on Philly’s training camp.
Harden was not present for 76ers media day, indicating a no-show for camp. Days later, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that “[Harden] wants to make the 76ers uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, ultimately, they don’t think they’ll get the best out of him and make a trade.”
Another report stated Harden was ready to show up and “make a scene.” With plenty of attention garnered and to the surprise of most, the 34-year-old reported for the first day of Nick Nurse’s training camp at Colorado State University.
All reports indicate Harden has been great at camp so far. “It’s been good,” Joel Embiid told The Athletic. “He’s been doing a little bit. Of course, he hasn’t played (in the live action), but the energy has been great. He’s been around, and I think he’s great for us. Coming in, and not being a distraction — not that it was going to distract us anyways, because we’ve been so focused.”
His Desired Destination
Harden, as we all know, wants to go back to his hometown of Los Angeles and play for the Clippers. The two sides have reportedly been working towards a deal, but don’t have much traction so far. The deal breaker at this point seems to be Terrance Mann, a piece that both sides value highly. The Clippers don’t want to give him up; the 76ers see him as a vital asset to the trade. Los Angeles looks to add a third team to the deal. Therefore, they add draft capital and finalize a deal.
Despite his adamant request to get out of Philadelphia, Harden has been “drama free” at camp. He’s been professional, with Danny Green claiming he’s taking care of his body and avoiding being a distraction. A different tactic for Harden, who went to large parties during COVID when trying to be traded from Houston.
Other James Harden News
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made light of Harden’s near-return to Houston this offseason, saying the guard met with Ime Udoka. The two sides had mutual interest until Harden revealed he was excited to come back and win another scoring title. Udoka, looking to win championships, not statistical categories, opted not to give Harden the max contract, giving the money to Fred VanVleet.
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Harden and Morey reportedly crossed paths at training camp last week, although they did not share words. The two have remained cordial, but not friendly with each other as Harden’s representation works with Morey to get their client to Los Angeles.
