NBA Woj: Clippers put an end to James Harden trade talks with Sixers
With the 2023-24 NBA season now underway for the majority of the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers begin on Thursday, all eyes are on the James Harden saga in the City of Brotherly Love.
Harden requested his trade back in June when he opted into his $35.6 million player option to help facilitate a trade. The future Hall of Famer has his eyes set on the Los Angeles Clippers, but trade talks between both sides have been very slow.
With the season now getting started, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Clippers have put an end to the Harden trade talks with the Sixers at least for now:
I’m told that is when the start of the season now, at least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden. They’re essentially pausing them. They have talked with Philadelphia for months about a trade. They’ve made their best offer for Harden and they are now going to start their season and see what this team looks like with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, a healthy Paul George. Now the Clippers may revisit this at some point, but they know they’re the only bidder for James Harden. They’re the only team that’s made a serious offer. They don’t want to bid against themselves, and again, while they may revisit this later in the season, I think the Sixers have to wonder have we already gotten the best offer we’re gonna get for James Harden? Especially, as the game start to peel off the calendar, and if you’re the Clippers, why offer more when there’s fewer and fewer games that James Harden can play for you?
Reporting for NBA Countdown: With the season starting, the Clippers are stepping back from James Harden trade talks pic.twitter.com/6KqCRqrJls
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 25, 2023
It appears that Harden will be a Sixer for a little while longer. He did return to the team on Wednesday after being away due to a personal matter and the Sixers will have him ramp up again with the hopes of having him play in games for them.
He will not travel to Milwaukee or Toronto with the Sixers, but Harden will continue to ramp up in an effort that he can eventually play in games again.
