James Harden Trade Speculation: Clippers Seek to Bolster Offer Following 76ers’ Rejection
Despite his unexpected absence on media day, James Harden has now joined the Philadelphia 76ers at their training camp in Fort Collins, Colorado, actively participating in practice sessions during the initial two days. However, his presence doesn’t indicate complete contentment.
In line with a recent report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, Harden’s desire for a trade remains firm, even though he has been described as an “engaged and positive participant” at the training camp. The key decision-maker, Daryl Morey, has been steadfast in his reluctance to send Harden to his preferred destination, the LA Clippers, underscoring that he will only make a move when his asking price is met.
To this end, it is worth noting that the 76ers, led by Morey, reportedly turned down an offer from the Clippers earlier this summer. As per Amick:
“In July, the Clippers proposed an offer to the Sixers, including an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap, and players in exchange for Harden, according to sources within the league. However, the Sixers have established a substantially higher threshold. In a potential trade with the Clippers, they have placed value on fifth-year forward Terance Mann and multiple first-round draft picks, sources have disclosed. Mann, who boasted an average of 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds last season, has garnered interest from various teams over the past few years.”
As the Clippers diligently work on crafting a more enticing package, they have reportedly reached out to other teams to explore the possibility of acquiring additional draft assets through pick swaps, as outlined in Amick’s report. Parting ways with Terance Mann would be a tough decision, given his versatility and consistent presence on the court, as he’s only missed two games over the past two seasons and boasts a 38% career 3-point shooting rate.
James Harden finds himself in a situation with both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, he must be encouraged by the Clippers’ continued interest and their efforts to enhance their trade proposal. On the other hand, he likely remains disappointed that an agreement remains distant, especially with the regular season commencing in less than three weeks.
Harden’s participation in the training camp helps him evade potential fines, reminiscent of the situation involving Ben Simmons a couple of years ago. According to Amick, Harden has chosen not to create any distractions, holding out hope that a trade opportunity will materialize in the near future.
Joel Embiid commented on Harden’s presence, stating, “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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