August 20th 2023.
James Harden recently caused a stir when he called Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey a “liar” during a trip to China to promote his line of shoes for Adidas. ESPN reported that the NBA has opened an investigation to determine whether or not Harden's comments alluded to a potential holdout for the 2023-2024 season or if he was simply referring to previous contract negotiations.
Sources claim that the disgruntled Harden is seeking a way out of Philadelphia since he does not view the team as a contender. The team had reportedly told Harden that they had not received a suitable offer for him and would not be trading him. Furthermore, Harden used his player option in June to pick up a $35.6 million one-year deal because Morey had informed him he would be traded.
When asked about the current state of his relationship with Morey, Harden told KHOU reporters that he was done with Morey and added “I’ve been patient all summer. For me, it’s just focus on what I can control and getting ready for this season.”
The Sixers situation is unfortunately reminiscent of the past, when Ben Simmons had fallen out with members of the upper management and was disruptive during team practices. Since then, Harden has implied that he will remain professional, but his comments that he “will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of” have raised questions about whether he will report to camp. In response, the NBA has launched an investigation into Harden's plans.
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