James Harden is overjoyed following rumored trade from the 76ers to the Clippers.
James Harden’s difficult few months in Philadelphia seem to be over after the 76ers reportedly decided on Monday night to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers.
ESPN reports that the Sixers will acquire Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap, and a third first-round pick that will be acquired through an undisclosed third team in exchange for Harden, PJ Tucker, and Filip Petrusev to the Clippers.
In June, Harden made a trade request, ideally to his home team, the Clippers. During a public event in China in August, he publicly criticized Sixers general manager Daryl Morey, expressing his dissatisfaction with the talks’ progress.
President of the 76ers During the event, Harden declared, “Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s part of.” Again, let me say that. I will never be a part of an organization that Daryl Morey is a part of because he is a liar.
Following that, a trade was inevitable, and Harden had missed the Sixers’ first three games of the current campaign. Harden is reportedly “ecstatic” about the deal, according to ESPN, and the Sixers plan to exchange the picks they acquired from the Clippers for a guard so Tyrese Maxey and reigning MVP Joel Embiid can play with him.
The 34-year-old Harden will move to Los Angeles to join perennial All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, as well as his old Houston Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook. In addition to being the NBA MVP in 2018, Harden is a ten-time All-Star and a three-time league scoring leader.
Harden has pushed his way out of teams before. This is not the first time. In 2020, he asked the Rockets for a trade and shortly after, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets. In recent years, the 76ers have also had to handle another prominent trade request. Ben Simmons, the former first overall pick, demanded a trade in August 2021 and was eventually traded to the Nets in January 2022.
