Author: Monojit Mandal
The Philadelphia 76ers have officially halted all trade discussions involving James Harden as the 2023-24 NBA season approaches, denying rumors about the player’s desire for a change of scenery. Notably, NBA expert Adrian Wojnarowski revealed in an ESPN report that the Sixers have no plans to trade Harden and want him to participate in the upcoming training camp.
According to reports, the 76ers held talks with the Los Angeles Clippers, whom Harden had mentioned as his first destination, but the talks were fruitless, which led to the decision to keep the star.
This decision comes shortly after Harden exercised his $35.6 million player option for next season, paving the way for a possible trade. Harden, 33, had a fantastic season for the Sixers last season, playing in 58 games and averaging 21.0 points, 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game, the league leader. His offensive chemistry with Joel Embiid was very productive, contributing to Embiid’s first MVP award.
However, the Sixers’ recurring tendency to be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, coupled with Harden’s problems in the post-season in the past, culminated in disappointment for the franchise during the 2022-23 season. The Sixers beat the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, thanks in no small part to Harden’s excellent efforts in Games 1 and 4.
Unfortunately, Harden’s effect waned in Games 6 and 7, resulting in a disappointing match.
Although the possibility of offering Harden a big contract in free agency was on the table, the Sixers ended up deciding not to make such a big investment, as Wojnarowski revealed at the end of June. This decision certainly saddened Harden, but since the Sixers couldn’t get the return they needed in a trade, they opted to extend their relationship with the star for at least another year.
As the new NBA season approaches, it will be interesting to see how this choice affects the dynamics on the court and whether Harden’s presence can help the 76ers go further in the playoffs.