The Persisting Standoff Between the Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden

Terance Mann (left) closely guarding James Harden (right). Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images.

Another off-season passes and the 76ers have locker room drama yet again. This began this summer when Sixer guard James Harden signed a 2 year, $68,640,000 contract with the 76ers with the understanding that the team would look to trade him. However, Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, has not actively sought out a trade for Harden and has even said that he may not even trade the 10x all-star and former MVP. This has led Harden to make negative comments about Morey to the media. Harden has also been absent from the team for the majority of training camp and preseason. The 76ers are not happy about this as the team has fined Harden $100,000 for calling Morey a “liar” and has the power to fine the veteran $389,082 for every game missed and at least $2,500 for every practice missed.

Harden is disgruntled with the 76ers. So the question that remains is why the team hasn’t traded the star. The Sixers’ championship window is open as Joel Embiid is coming off an MVP season, Tyrese Maxey has developed into an all-star caliber player, and the team has hired new head coach Nick Nurse who previously led the Toronto Raptors to 252 wins, 179 losses, and 1 championship in his 5 years as head coach.

The only team that has really shown interest in Harden is the Los Angeles Clippers who appear to not be interested in involving Kawhi Leonard or Paul George in any potential trade. The teams currently can agree on a trade that would send James Harden, Danuel House Jr, and Jaden Springer to the Clippers for Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, and Terance Mann. To the general public, that sounds like a trade that works out for both teams. The 76ers get wing scoring and big man depth for Joel Embiid, while the Clippers get a 3rd star to help them compete in the West. The only problem is that the 76ers would be giving up the 21-year-old Jaden Springer who is coming off a season in the G league where he was a league champion, finals MVP, and led the league in steals, averaging 2.4 a game. Springer is a 6′ 4″, 202 lbs guard and wing who is a lockdown defender and a capable shooter. The 76ers like Springer and he may be someone that the team may turn to if Harden continues to hold out.

To make this trade work the 76ers need a contract that is around the $2 million mark. The Sixers have plenty of options on their roster that meet this requirement, however, they are all recently signed players meaning that the team has to wait until December 14th to trade them. Consequently, Harden will likely stay on the team until at least December 14th. Once the Sixers can trade their recently signed players, the team can offer James Harden, Danuel House Jr, and Mo Bamba to the Clippers for Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, and Terance Mann. If the Sixers were to make this trade they could be looking at a well-balanced team consisting of Tyrese Maxey, Norman Powell, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, and Joel Embiid in the starting lineup and a stacked bench with Terance Mann, De'anthony Melton, Ivica Zubac, Danny Green, Patrick Beverley, Kelly Oubre Jr, Paul Reed, and Jaden Springer.