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A proposed James Harden trade would give the Los Angeles Lakers another former MVP while sending the Philadelphia 76ers back a buy-low package of assets. Lake Show Life’s Jason Reed suggested the Lakers could land Harden by sending D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round draft pick and two future second-rounders to Philadelphia. He acknowledged that such a deal would be controversial.
“Daryl Morey has shown that he will stay patient and let a situation drag out if need be, so it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the situation could drag on long enough for the Lakers to get involved,” Reed wrote in his story, published August 15. “Obviously, this would be a controversial trade for the purple and gold to make. Harden is one of the most polarizing players in the league and he has not been consistent at all in the playoffs.”
For it even to become a possibility, Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis would have to pressure the front office into pursuing it, Reed wrote.
“NBA fans also know that teams will take big swings at superstar players if they think it will result in a championship,” Reed wrote. “If there is enough pressure from the superstars on the roster then the front office may have no other choice.”
James Harden Went Viral With Daryl Morey-Sixers Rant
Harden put the Sixers organization — and most notably, Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey — on blast in a viral rant claiming he’d never play for a franchise employing a “liar” like Morey.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said August 14 during an Adidas media event in China. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
The 76ers have been planning to bring Harden back to training camp and for the start of the season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, setting up an uncomfortable situation with the unhappy star, who opted in on the final year of his contract and requested a trade.
“The Philadelphia 76ers have ended trade talks involving 10-time All-Star guard James Harden and plan to bring him back to training camp for the start of the season, setting up an uncomfortable situation with the unhappy star, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The Sixers had periodic offseason conversations with the LA Clippers — Harden’s desired destination — but no traction on a deal materialized, sources said,” Wojnarowski reported on August 12.
‘Not Sixers’ Fault’ James Harden Misread Market Value
CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter did not let Harden off the hook in the slightest, blaming the Sixers star for misreading his own market value and taking it out on his employer.
“It’s not the Sixers fault that Harden misread his value on the market,” Reiter wrote on August 15. “That’s a stark irony here — the fact that it’s Philadelphia that values — or did – Harden as much or more than any other team in the league. Only three teams were willing to engage in serious talks with the Sixers about Harden, and none valued him as highly as Philly did.
“That’s a Harden problem, not a Morey problem,” Reiter wrote. “That’s about a former superstar thinking the rules should bend to his will — long after he’s lost his ability to make the game do so — not about some supposed lie.”
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