PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play ... [+] against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter in game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesWhen James Harden unexpectedly picked up his $35.6 million player option on Thursday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported it was "expected that Harden has played his last game" for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Three days later, he slightly backtracked on SportsCenter. He said it was "more than conceivable" that Harden will still be on the Sixers heading into training camp, as team president Daryl Morey's "track record" is "not just giving away an asset."
"The Sixers are not afraid to let it be known that they don't think necessarily it's over with James Harden," ESPN's Brian Windhorst added on the Hoop Collective podcast. "That maybe everybody was just a little bit in their feelings and a little bit fired up about the state of the negotiations on Thursday, and Harden very angrily picked up his option, that it may not be over."
The real question is how long the Sixers are willing to maintain that stance, particularly if Harden is still on their roster heading into training camp.
For now, they're likely conveying that message to maintain leverage in trade talks with other teams. If suitors believe Harden isn't willing to play out the final year of his contract in Philadelphia, they might be inclined to offer less in negotiations.
That appears to be what's playing out so far. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported Friday that the Los Angeles Clippers—Harden's preferred destination, according to multiple reports—were "expected to show resistance in including any prized young player, such as Terance Mann or Bones Hyland." Windhorst said Kawhi Leonard and Paul George aren't on the table, either, as the Clippers are hoping to create a Big Three with those two and Harden.
The Clippers do have plenty of medium-sized contracts to make the deal work from a salary-matching perspective, including Norman Powell ($18.0 million), Marcus Morris ($17.1 million), Nicolas Batum ($11.7 million) and Robert Covington ($11.7 million). K.J. Martin, whom the Clippers agreed to acquire for two second-round picks, would also fit into the Sixers' $2.4 million traded player exception from the Matisse Thybulle deal back in February. He might be a way to bridge the gap between the two teams if the Clippers aren't willing to offer Mann or Hyland.
There are likely three sticking points in the Harden trade talks at the moment: Whether the Clippers would be willing to include any of their young players, which salary-filler contracts they're sending back and how much (if any) draft compensation they'd offer as well.
The Clippers already owe their unprotected 2024 and 2026 first-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the George trade in 2019, along with a 2025 first-round pick swap. That means they could offer the Sixers two unprotected first-round picks (2028 and 2030) and/or two pick swaps (2027 and 2029) if so inclined. They've also already traded away four of their next five second-round picks, although they do have their 2029 and 2030 second-rounders, along with a handful from other teams over the next few years.
Between their draft picks and salary filler, the Clippers should have enough assets to acquire Harden. But given the stakes of this trade for the Sixers—if they whiff on the return, it could raise questions about Joel Embiid's long-term future in Philly—it's understandable why they're holding out for a haul.
Still, Harden's past history should give them second thoughts about allowing this to drag out for too long.
Back in 2020, Harden "indicated to the Houston Rockets before training camp that he would be open to a trade," according to Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon. He then missed the start of training camp due to the league's health-and-safety protocols amidst the Covid-19 pandemic because he was out partying in Las Vegas. Upon his return, he had "multiple verbal confrontations with teammates in practice," including one in which he threw a basketball at forward Jae'Sean Tate, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Harden started the 2020-21 campaign with three straight 30-plus-point outings, but the wheels quickly fell off from there. One day after a particularly apathetic performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in mid-January—after which he told reporters the situation was "crazy" and "something that I don't think can be fixed"—the Rockets shipped him to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team trade that netted them four first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps.
By virtue of picking up his player option, Harden is now under contract with the Sixers for the 2023-24 season. But if the Clippers or another team won't meet their asking price for him, do the Sixers dare a repeat of Harden's disastrous final days in Houston? Or, more recently, Ben Simmons' half-season absence following his own trade request in 2021?
Even if the Sixers did hold firm and Harden shows up to training camp on time, it's fair to wonder how engaged he'd be. In mid-May, Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported Harden wanted to land on a team that gave him "the basketball freedom" to "be himself," which implies that he was unhappy with the sacrifices he made last season while playing alongside Embiid.
According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, Harden reportedly "came away from his introductory meeting" with new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse "intrigued by Nurse's vision." Kelly Iko of The Athletic added that Harden was "pretty on board with everything" Nurse presented "in terms of trying new ways to optimize him, trying new ways to revamp or retool" the Sixers' offense.
However, acrimony over his contract negotiations could factor into his willingness to play the good soldier for another year. Citing sources close to Harden, Sam Amick of The Athletic reported he was "extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the organization."
"A player of Harden’s caliber could typically expect to have some clarity about the incumbent franchise’s intentions long before that time arrives," Amick added. "But in recent weeks and days, sources say, all indications on Harden’s side pointed to the Sixers forcing him to test the market before they would make an offer of any kind."
The Sixers technically weren’t allowed to begin negotiating with Harden before 6 p.m. ET on June 30. According to multiple reports, they wanted to play by those rules—even though other teams frequently break them—because the NBA punished them for tampering with P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. ahead of free agency last year.
When Harden forced his way out of Houston, he still had nearly two full years left on his contract. This time around, he's set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, as he isn't eligible to sign a contract extension due to the length of his current deal.
If Harden allows his frustration to get the best of him and goes on a scorched-earth campaign to force his way out of Philly, there's no guarantee that other teams will be lining up to pay him a big-money, long-term deal in 2024. At that point, he'll have a well-established pattern of behavior when things go south that could make any team queasy.
But if Embiid's patience begins to wear thin with this circus act, the Sixers might be facing a lose-lose situation at some point. Either they take unequal value back for Harden in a trade, or they risk having the face of their franchise and the NBA's reigning MVP perhaps reexamine his own long-term future in Philadelphia.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/07/05/how-long-can-the-sixers-afford-to-wait-on-a-james-harden-trade/
By: Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
Title: How Long Can The Sixers Afford To Wait On A James Harden Trade?
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/07/05/how-long-can-the-sixers-afford-to-wait-on-a-james-harden-trade/
Published Date: 07-05-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NBA player has blocked the most shots in a single season?
Mark Eaton's 1984-85 season set new records in blocks (456) as well as blocks per game (5.56). Eaton's total for that season is the highest single-season NBA record.
Hakeem Olajuwon holds the NBA record for most consecutive blocks with 3,830. Olajuwon was averaging 21.8 points per game, 11.1rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.0 blocks over his 18-year professional career.
Which is the greatest basketball player ever?
It is difficult to answer this question because there are so many great players and everyone has their opinion. However, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant are among the top contenders for the title. Each of these legends has made an incredible impact on the game of basketball and has earned their place in basketball history. Each of these legends have their own styles of play, which have been admired worldwide by millions. Because everyone has their opinions about who the best player is, it's impossible to definitively answer that question. It is clear that the six most outstanding players on any list of greatest players must be included.
Most people agree that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. He was born on February 17th 1963 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Jordan began his professional basketball journey with the Chicago Bulls back in 1984. He quickly rose to fame and became a successful player. Jordan was a six-time NBA Champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP, five times NBA regular season MVP. He was also a 10 time NBA scoring leader, 10-time NBA team MVP, nine-time NBA all defensive first team, and three-time NBA steals leader.
Jordan was also a two time Olympic gold medalist and was inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame 2009. Jordan is best known for his extraordinary ability to make plays and score from anywhere on court. Due to his relentless drive and ambition, Jordan will be remembered as an inspiration to millions across the globe.
Jordan's legacy, the undisputed greatest player of basketball history, will continue to live on. His level of greatness is unparalleled by any other player. He will forever be remembered for being one of the greatest athletes in history. Michael Jordan is simply the greatest ever. His amazing career and accomplishments will never be forgotten. He was, remains, and always will remain "The GOAT," Michael Jordan.
Who made the NBA's first basket?
Ossie Schectman was an American pro basketball player. He scored the first basket with the Basketball Association of America, which later became the National Basketball Association. The basket was scored on November 1, 1946, in a game between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers. Schectman's historic first basket was the opening of the inaugural season for BAA.
What is the NBA Draft and how does it work?
The NBA Draft takes place every year and allows teams to choose the eligible players who will be joining the league. The draft takes place each June and is divided into two rounds with each team receiving one pick. The order of drafts is determined by teams' previous seasons records. The worst team will get the first pick while the best team will receive the last. During this event, teams can select college players or international players who are at least 19 years old. This event is essential for teams because they have the opportunity to recruit new talent as well as build their team. It is also an excellent opportunity for players to jump from college or international leagues to the NBA.
Who holds record for most NBA career playoff wins?
LeBron James is the leader of the pack, with an impressive record of 174 wins in NBA Playoffs history, and 266 games played. It's not surprising that he is today's most desired basketball player.
Statistics
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
sbnation.com
bleacherreport.com
si.com
sports.yahoo.com
How To
What is the best way to get drafted into the NBA?
The two options for becoming an NBA player include high school or college.
College players attend NCAA schools like Duke University, North Carolina State University, or the University of Kentucky. These schools offer four years of education and training. These schools offer four years of education and training. They learn how to run an offense and defense. And they hone the mental aspects of being a professional athlete.
Prep schools are open to high school athletes from outside their home states. These schools are focused on talent development and provide athletes with personalized attention. These schools focus on teaching academics and character development as well as sportsmanship.
Both types of players must pass identical physical tests before being allowed to enter the draft. The test requires that you run 40 miles, jump over a 5’6” box, stand on one side, and throw a football through an open tire.
The NBA invites players who have passed these tests to join in on workouts with other teams. They are evaluated based on their height and weight as well as their speed.
Teams also take into account their past experience. AAU Basketball players are likely to be given preferential treatment.
Sometimes, players considered too small to be professional athletes are called "one and done" prospects. These players are typically selected in the second round.
Some players choose to skip college and go straight to the NBA. These players are known to be "prospects". Prospects don’t have to wait until the last year to declare their eligibility for the draft.
They can apply for an exemption to enter the draft early. Prospects who do so will be able compete with other prospects in the pre-draft process.
Participation in summer leagues is a way to improve your chances of getting selected. Summer league games are played in July or August.
Scouts have the chance to see players in action at these events without worrying about injury.
The NBA Draft is held in June. This is when all top prospects are evaluated by the 30 NBA teams. Each team gets a different number of picks each round.
As an example, in the first round, the 15th overall selection is chosen. The 60th pick in the third round is the 20th selection.
Teams trade after the draft to add players to their rosters. Mini-camps are sometimes held by some teams to allow potential draftees to come train with them.
Draft day is exciting! What happens?
Once the draft starts, you don't have to wait for your name in the call. Every NBA team chooses from the pool of potential players.
Once a team selects players, it sends them a contract which outlines their salary, playing times, and benefits. He becomes an employee of the company.
He also receives an embroidered jersey with his name on the front and a shirt with his new nickname.
Finally, he signs that contract. That means he officially joins the NBA.
