FORT COLLINS, Colo. — When James Harden left the Moby Arena practice floor after his second day of training camp practice on Thursday, it was only fitting that the man who has drawn so much ire from the Philadelphia 76ers star for all these months, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, was on his way in.
Yet the two did not cross paths, and they did not share any cross words. And so it was that the light mood that has surprised so many since Harden decided to rejoin the team Wednesday remained intact. Harden was all smiles before he left, talking with assistant coaches Bobby Jackson and Rico Hines near one of the baskets after a practice in which he has participated in team drills but not live action. Multiple sources with knowledge of Harden’s two practice sessions say he has been an engaged and positive participant. Morey, who has made it so clear that he won’t fulfill Harden’s trade request to the Clippers unless his asking price is met, went on his way in seemingly good spirits as well.
All of which begged the question of why.
Why has Harden, who famously called Morey a “liar” in August and swore that he’d “never be part of an organization that he’s a part of,” chosen to show up to work and conduct himself in the kind of professional manner that so few saw coming?
The most obvious answer, of course, is money.
By taking part, Harden is avoiding the sort of financial fate that Ben Simmons experienced when he lost approximately $20 million during his standoff with the Sixers during the 2021-22 season. But beyond the money matters, league sources say Harden also is taking part because he remains hopeful that a trade to the Clippers is still in the works and believes, for now, that it would be wise to not be a distraction. And the Clippers, league sources say, are going to great lengths to make it happen.
League sources say the Clippers have been talking to several teams about ways to move pick swaps for additional draft capital with the intention of bolstering their offer and getting a deal done.
The Clippers offered the Sixers an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap and salaries for Harden in July, league sources say, but Philadelphia has set a much higher threshold. The Sixers have valued fifth-year forward Terance Mann and multiple first-round picks in a potential trade with the Clippers, sources added. Mann, who averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds a season ago, has become a prospect of interest for teams over the past couple years.
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If the Clippers are able to add to their offer in the kind of meaningful way that the two teams have previously discussed, then the next phase in this Harden saga will unfold from there and the ball, so to speak, would be in Morey’s court. But for now, with Sixers camp concluding on Friday and a preseason game in Boston on Sunday, it appears likely that Harden’s participation will continue.
For a team that has maintained its messaging about championship aspirations, with first-year coach Nick Nurse holding camp in Colorado as a reminder to his players that the title runs through the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the unresolved Harden situation is clearly a massive obstacle to that goal. And while sources say Harden remains as strong as ever in his stance — he wants his Sixers career to end and to play for his hometown Clippers — it has come as a surprise to many that these first two days have been so void of drama. What’s more, he came into camp in shape after surely hearing a summer’s worth of social media snark from fans and media members alike about how he would likely be overweight.
“It’s been good,” Sixers big man and reigning MVP Joel Embiid said after practice when asked about Harden’s return. “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.
“I think this group is a little different than a couple years ago, when we had the situation (with Simmons). With a new coaching staff and everything that’s going on, it’s been easy. I don’t think anybody has been distracted (by) what has been going on.”
Embiid was then asked if he expected Harden to remain with the team, in essence, in the days and weeks ahead.
“Uh, I don’t know,” he continued. “He’s here. He’s practicing with us, and, you know, that’s all we know. But like I said, we’re not focused on that. We’re just trying to focus on getting the offense together, and the defense together, figuring out how to play together.”
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While Harden did not take part in the team dinner on Tuesday night, when the Sixers traveled to nearby Boulder to meet with Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, he is staying at the team hotel. And as veteran guard Danny Green detailed, the on-court component has been perceived as positive by his teammates.
“I want to commend guys like Pat (Beverley), PJ (Tucker), and James as well,” Green told The Athletic. “With as long as these guys have been in the league, and with their tenure, they’re all professionals. James, at the end of the day, is a professional. And people may not look at him (this) way, but he’s a winner. Since he’s come into the league, he’s probably in the top five or 10 for most wins since he’s been in this league. Maybe not playoffs and championships, but he wins and he comes to work and works on his body, and you can see it. … He takes his body serious. He takes his game serious. And he’s just not one of those guys who’s going to come in and be a distraction.”
Yet as is the case with everyone inside the Sixers organization, Green is well aware that there’s a level of unpredictability with Harden that will likely be there until his wish is granted.
“Ultimately, playing against him for so many years, and playing with him for a short amount of time and knowing James, I don’t see him not playing,” Green said. “There is a little unknowing of (what he’ll do next). He’s upset, but I think he’s trying to separate the two. You can be upset there, but be family here, and be great with his teammates, with his brothers, and be a part of something that he knows can make something happen and be special.”
(Photo of James Harden: Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images)