Adrian Wojnarowski, an ESPN reporter, provides key insights regarding James Harden’s potential return to 76ers. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers anticipate the arrival of James Harden to the team as early as Tuesday evening.
While there is a chance that the discontented guard may put on his basketball shoes and prepare for the 2023-2024 season with the Sixers, despite his trade request early in the offseason, Wojnarowski advises caution in assuming that everything is going smoothly in the Harden saga.
James Harden’s Potential Return to 76ers
Harden’s Participation Raises Questions:
“[Harden’s arrival] doesn’t necessarily guarantee that James Harden will fully engage in practice, or practice at all, or how soon he might, and that’s going to be the next question for Harden and the Sixers,” Wojnarowski stated on NBA Today Tuesday. “They do anticipate him participating in practice. They expect him to fulfill his contractual obligations for this season. However, the arrival of James Harden in Colorado to officially rejoin his team may differ from the assumption that Harden will immediately become a fully integrated member of the organization again.”
Considering past scenarios, Harden has applied pressure to both his former teams, the Houston Rockets, and the Brooklyn Nets, even when he’s physically present with the organization. Although his trade request in Houston was fulfilled more swiftly than his request in Brooklyn, Harden has succeeded in two trade situations over the past three years.
Philadelphia’s President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, confirmed Harden’s desire for another trade on Monday during the media day. However, Morey reiterated that the Sixers highly value Harden and are not willing to part with him at a discounted price.
As the Los Angeles Clippers have been the primary trade suitor for Harden this offseason, the Western Conference contenders are reluctant to engage in serious trade discussions with the Sixers as long as they refuse to meet Morey’s asking price.
The Clippers’ Position:
“The Clippers have been intermittently discussing a James Harden trade with the Sixers for months,” Wojnarowski continued. “I have been informed that they have recently had discussions again, but no significant progress has been made. The Sixers are demanding a substantial return for trading James Harden. They are looking to acquire either a player who can provide immediate help or, more likely, assets that they can use to acquire such a player. The Clippers, in their current situation, are content to wait and observe what unfolds in Philadelphia regarding James Harden. They are prepared to allow a potentially distracting and circus-like situation to play out. The Clippers are not particularly motivated to increase or improve their offer, especially when they believe they have already presented the best offer available for James Harden. There isn’t another aggressively pursuing team for Harden.”
In the short term, the Sixers and the Clippers are not expected to reach an agreement on a trade that would send Harden to the Western Conference. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that the Clippers were willing to watch the James Harden-Sixers situation develop as they prepared for the upcoming season. Based on Woj’s latest update, it appears that the Clippers are maintaining that stance, closely monitoring the situation from a distance and waiting to see if the Sixers reach a point where they are compelled to lower their asking price.
Regarding Philadelphia, they are hopeful that Harden will be motivated and ready to play so they can handle their business during the 2023-2024 NBA season.
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