Sixers Offseason Thread Part 4

[Negrodamus]

So he lied about trading him quickly to get him to opt in? Would be pretty cutthroat (but smart) to pull that off. But if he wanted to be traded quickly, he should be more flexible on where he can be traded to. He should also stop sabotaging his value.

[Jailblazers7]

It’s definitely a little satisfying to see a player get burned by this. We’ve seen plenty of examples where players sign a big extension & demand a trade shortly after.

This time the roles are reversed & the player community doesn’t seem to like it lol

[Tony Franciosa]

So he lied about trading him quickly to get him to opt in? Would be pretty cutthroat (but smart) to pull that off. But if he wanted to be traded quickly, he should be more flexible on where he can be traded to. He should also stop sabotaging his value.

And has been stated numerous times, if he really wanted out, he could have opted out and went wherever he wanted. But he has an inflated sense of his own value and is greedy.

Me? I'm spiteful and a glutton for punishment, so if the team wants to sit his azz for the season, I'm all for it, even if it means a down year. Let him rot.

[spikeslovechild]

He could have been a simultaneous trade. Harden knew there was no agreed upon trade when he opted in. What a F'n bitch.

[spikeslovechild]

So he lied about trading him quickly to get him to opt in? Would be pretty cutthroat (but smart) to pull that off. But if he wanted to be traded quickly, he should be more flexible on where he can be traded to. He should also stop sabotaging his value.

Did he? Because there is a difference between someone says I'll try to trade you quickly and will trade you quickly

Harden has no one to blame but himself for there being a lack of interest in his services in the NBA. He isn't in a position to demand anything.

[Mr Chim]

The NBA has become a clown show. If Silver doesn't step in and do something soon, they're going to start losing viewership. I'm a pretty dedicated fan and I'm on the brink myself.

Get rid of the cap and this all goes away. Players can get paid what the market dictates they get paid and you can sign contracts and take your services to wherever you'd like.

Get rid of the cap and every star in the league will all join the Lakers and forget a "Big 3" they'll have a "Big 15." Which speaks to another problem in the NBA, the value of competition and beating your peers. Players want to piggyback their way to titles.

No, they won't. It's a business, the Laker's don't have unlimited money to spend on super teams. It's such a boogeyman when in reality the cap is ruining the league.

Go talk to the New York Mets and ask them how trying to outspend everyone goes for you.

[fkd215]

I'm not sure Daryl lied either. One, like has been said, he probably said he'd try. (No one can make a trade without a trade partner. Why isn't Harden mad at the Clips?) But 2, he also went on record pretty early on saying that he's only going to make a trade that benefits the team. I'm not impressed with Harden's case here.

[rzzzzz]

Why isn't Harden mad at the Clips?

Hard to call out the FO of the team you want to play on. It’s really up to Kawhi and George to argue that case. They’re the ones who want to go out as winning, and maybe force some kind of favorable extensions.

[Philly's Best]

Sounds like Harden actually owes Morey an apology as Morey tried to bring him back in the fold with out embarrassing him that no one actually wants him. Reading between the lines seems like the Clips didn't/ don't want him

[Skates]

NBA needs to do a hard cap, tied with some sort of cap relief for teams that keeps player compensation whole while teams shed a percent of their contract while also ditching max deals.

The NBA has the money and ability to do it. They just cry poor enough you believe them.

The new deal basically is a hard cap, just allowing teams to take one shot at exceeding the second apron in a year they think they can win it all. No team can have success long term past that second apron and most don't want to go there at all as a lot of older FA's are discovering. So if you want to be Phoenix and try to make a 1-2 year splash, you are allowed to go all in, but overall that second tax apron is a killer.

Harden looks like even more of an idiot and crybaby now, I did not think that was possible. Impressive James, very impressive.

[Warfelg]

NBA needs to do a hard cap, tied with some sort of cap relief for teams that keeps player compensation whole while teams shed a percent of their contract while also ditching max deals.

The NBA has the money and ability to do it. They just cry poor enough you believe them.

The new deal basically is a hard cap, just allowing teams to take one shot at exceeding the second apron in a year they think they can win it all. No team can have success long term past that second apron and most don't want to go there at all as a lot of older FA's are discovering. So if you want to be Phoenix and try to make a 1-2 year splash, you are allowed to go all in, but overall that second tax apron is a killer.

Harden looks like even more of an idiot and crybaby now, I did not think that was possible. Impressive James, very impressive.

This issue isn't that, it's that you still have a soft cap and the tax, and teams as well as players/agents know it's often better for teams to operate over those levels. Ditch the soft cap and tax and just make the 2nd apron the hard cap.

[Stanford]

Go talk to the New York Mets and ask them how trying to outspend everyone goes for you.

And the Yankees, Angels, and Padres for that matter. Being a quality organization ultimately makes the difference. But having the ability to spend more than your competitors is still a huge advantage in baseball. Not just for the major league payroll, but international signings, signing bonuses for drafted players, and off-field talent and infrastructure as well.

[the_process]

The NBA has become a clown show. If Silver doesn't step in and do something soon, they're going to start losing viewership. I'm a pretty dedicated fan and I'm on the brink myself.

Get rid of the cap and this all goes away. Players can get paid what the market dictates they get paid and you can sign contracts and take your services to wherever you'd like.

Get rid of the cap and every star in the league will all join the Lakers and forget a "Big 3" they'll have a "Big 15." Which speaks to another problem in the NBA, the value of competition and beating your peers. Players want to piggyback their way to titles.

No, they won't. It's a business, the Laker's don't have unlimited money to spend on super teams. It's such a boogeyman when in reality the cap is ruining the league.

Go talk to the New York Mets and ask them how trying to outspend everyone goes for you.

In the NBA, guys like to get paid and they like to play with their friends. They also look for lifestyle and extra curriculars. I agree the Lakers wouldn't be a "big 15", but that market could absolutely support a big 5. The Warriors dynasty on steroids.

Looking across the street at Ballmer's checkbook, the Clippers could have a big 6 or 7 for a year or two.

No thanks, keep the cap.

[FireMorey]

The NBA has become a clown show. If Silver doesn't step in and do something soon, they're going to start losing viewership. I'm a pretty dedicated fan and I'm on the brink myself.

Get rid of the cap and this all goes away. Players can get paid what the market dictates they get paid and you can sign contracts and take your services to wherever you'd like.

Get rid of the cap and every star in the league will all join the Lakers and forget a "Big 3" they'll have a "Big 15." Which speaks to another problem in the NBA, the value of competition and beating your peers. Players want to piggyback their way to titles.

No, they won't. It's a business, the Laker's don't have unlimited money to spend on super teams. It's such a boogeyman when in reality the cap is ruining the league.

Go talk to the New York Mets and ask them how trying to outspend everyone goes for you.

I was being hyperbolic with big 15, but they definitely would stack a starting lineup of stars. The top star free agent every year would sign with the Lakers. And if the Lakers ownership gets tight on a budget, you know the players would make that up with business opportunities out there. Commercials, endorsements, acting jobs, clothing lines, etc.

[M2J]

Super interested in what clippers actually offered if it wasn't blocked due to Mann.

If Mann and Powell were offered, it's something Daryl has to really consider now. Great roster fits in terms of additional scoring needs off the bench with Powell, and a 2 way player in Mann that could start for this roster next to Maxey/Melton/Tobias/Joel.... with versatility off the bench. I pretty much wrote prior to free agency when folks still were believing that complete BS about Harden going to Houston, that its unlikely going to be Houston....just doesn't make sense for Houston to offer Harden a long term deal considering he's clearly only going for the money and is a low character guy that would ask for a trade next year after getting the big deal; and LAL/LAC would be teams that would be interested in trading for him (they've both wanted a primary ball handler to relieve Lebron/Paul George for years.

I don't see the Lakers making this move now that they've had such a great offseason and Vanderbilt for instance is such an important piece to possibly backup both Lebron and AD to allow load management, plus Reed could develop into that type of player. However, I wouldn't fully count them out as an in season trade partner if Harden plays the right way and makes smart decisions. But the Clippers could've been a solid partner if Harden didn't embolden them so much by saying he only wants to go there, and pretend he actually has the same power he did 3 years ago.

Add in some 2nd round picks, or a young prospect, then Morey could've perhaps had some pieces that could net a distressed "star". Mann/Reed/Melton/even Tucker IMO are tradeable assets to interested contenders.

[Arsenal]

Mann + Powell for Harden is an atrocious offer. Much rather let Harden rot.

[Warfelg]

I’d rather have Mann and the expiring contracts than Powell.


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[GutUNC]

The NBA has become a clown show. If Silver doesn't step in and do something soon, they're going to start losing viewership. I'm a pretty dedicated fan and I'm on the brink myself.

Get rid of the cap and this all goes away. Players can get paid what the market dictates they get paid and you can sign contracts and take your services to wherever you'd like.

Get rid of the cap and every star in the league will all join the Lakers and forget a "Big 3" they'll have a "Big 15." Which speaks to another problem in the NBA, the value of competition and beating your peers. Players want to piggyback their way to titles.

No, they won't. It's a business, the Laker's don't have unlimited money to spend on super teams. It's such a boogeyman when in reality the cap is ruining the league.

Go talk to the New York Mets and ask them how trying to outspend everyone goes for you.

Baseball is a 25-man team sport. Basketball plays 8-10 and 1-2 stars are overwhelmingly more important. It's not even remotely similar. Shohei Ohtani might be the greatest player ever, Mike Trout is a generational talent and the Angels can't sniff the playoffs.

[Black Mage]

Well that confirms it. There was no promise.

I am SHOCKED Harden would tell such a damaging lie in an attempt to weasel his way out.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

So if the Clippers aren't really interested, then where does that leave everyone? I can't think of many other teams that would be interested in Harden right now. Personally, I don't think the Clippers were ever really about that idea in the first place. I think they thought if they could dump some crap back on us, they'd take him, but teams around the league know his value at this point. It's certainly not superstar value. Morey is trying to get a King's ransom for him at the same time and that's why this is going nowhere.
If Harden truly wants out of Philly, then he's going to have to broaden his preferences and live with the results for a season. After that, he can sign anywhere he wants to for the vet min.

One team that I think could eventually step in and move on Harden would be the Pelicans. We'd probably be looking at a simple trade of Harden for McCollum if that were even possible. Harden setting up Ingram and Zion would probably work pretty well. With Jordan Hawkins in the mix for minutes on that team, I could see them parting with CJ for Harden in the name of a better fit, but that's really it, and even that sounds like a stretch of a reason as I type this out.

Chicago might jump into the mix as well, but again, we're looking at either Lavine or DDR coming back in a trade (at which point we'd be giving up something extra to get them). Morey isn't going to get a ton of young prospects and picks for James Harden. He has to understand the situation as it is. It's only getting worse.

Is a buyout possible? Or would we simply avoid that just to stick it to Hardne?

This is just a big-time chess match between Harden and Morey and it looks as though Harden is starting to lose his footing the longer this goes on. This situation is unrepairable at this point, so I don't think reconciliation is in the cards. We will never see Harden put on a Sixers jersey again. The thing of it is, everyone knows Harden for who and what he is both on and off the court at this point. In fact, I'm willing to bet he tanked his value back when he suddenly wanted out of Houston. Then he burned another bridge in Brooklyn. Now he's older and is still trying to pull this off and it's just not working for him. On top of that, you factor in the type of example he'd set on a younger team like the Pels, and the front office has got to be saying "hell NO" to that.

Worst case scenario, we park him for the season and move on without him. I can actually live with that because, in the long term, it hurts him more than it hurts us. We will get to move on from him regardless, but he'll be a year older after this season and if he wants to stick in this league, he'll be doing it on a "prove it" type of contract. Otherwise, he's taking his entitled ass to China and the last memory everyone will have of James Harden is the choke job he left us all with in game 7 against Boston. It's a win for us all around. I don't mean to sound or get spiteful with this, but Harden already decided to fight dirty, so it's game on. F HIM.