NBA Trade Rumors: James Harden hasn’t moved off trade request just yet
NBA Trade Rumors: James Harden is not ready to move off from his trade demand just yet.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been relatively quiet this offseason. And there’s one big reason why; it was reported a couple of weeks ago that James Harden had quietly requested a trade away from the Sixers. That’s a big reason why he decided to opt into the final year of his contract with the Sixers. The plan was that he and the Sixers would work together to find a trade for him to a contender.
That hasn’t happened yet and there doesn’t appear to be much momentum toward a trade. So much so that there’s been a growing expectation recently that Harden could remain with the Sixers. Despite some hope that those in the Sixers’ organization can change Harden’s stance on a trade, the word out of Harden’s camp hasn’t changed.
Harden still wants to be traded out of Philadelphia and is standing firm on his trade request that he made to the team shortly after the end of the season. However, without much of a market for Harden, considering he’s an expiring contract after the season, the road to finding a trade for Harden could prove to be difficult for the Sixers.
The LA Clippers have been linked to James Harden
The LA Clippers are a team that has been linked to Harden as a landing spot that he prefers. Because of the lack of a trade market, though, the Clippers have refused to make an offer that falls in line with making the Sixers better or, worst-case scenario, an equally dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.
If Harden does end up being traded, you’d have to imagine that the Clippers would be a strong contender to get him. Harden could represent the Clippers’ last shot at winning an NBA Championship or even making a deep run in the postseason for the Paul George-Kawhi Leonard era.
His huge salary ($35.6 million to be exact) for the 2023-24 season also makes it difficult for the Clippers to make it work financially for them, especially considering they’re in their own salary troubles heading into the season.
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At least for now, it seems as if the Sixers are hoping that Harden changes his mind and opens himself to the possibility of playing another season in Philadelphia. However, it doesn’t seem as if Harden is ready for that reality just yet.