So what were Morey’s original Harden intentions heading into the offseason?

[rzzzzz]

Harden had 2 great games in the 2nd round, and bottomed out in games 6 and 7. (Embiid again was injured, and I kind of doubt that ligament was going to heal if he had a chance to stay on it another round or two.) James also had a respectable regular season, even if Doc couldn’t quite implement the most productive scheme to share the rock. And then Doc was gone, which I thought James might have had at least some small role in, and we hired someone who is 180 degrees different as coach.

So what did Morey want to happen? James opt out and leave? I don’t know, Morey is the biggest Harden fan. Was he really going to offer him some sort of contract for 2 or 3 years? If so, even if Harden’s inexperienced representation kind of flubbed things and jumped the gun, couldn’t Morey have still offered whatever for a 2nd year on top of the opt in salary? If, instead, he really did want to trade Harden, which I still doubt, couldn’t he have worked with him to make things friendlier so that he could have gone where he wanted without the Sixers getting fleeced? What would Harden care about the Clippers giving up a couple of draft picks? All he had to do was pretend he was open to going anywhere, and he would have had a much better chance getting what he wanted by now.

There’s something so unnecessarily incompetent and emotional on both sides about this whole stinking mess.

[Negrodamus]

I think Morey made a bet on Embiid playing, for the first time ever, with a floor general who would complement his game and they’d cruise to the ECF (at minimum). Embiid came up short, but Harden really disappeared in every game other than 2 in the Celtics series.

Hard to give a guy like that a big contract at this stage of his career. I get why we went with Harden, but I would have really preferred Fox at the time, if he was actually on the table.

[Kobblehead]

Morey's original intentions were to have a storybook ending by re-connecting in another franchise and winning a championship with the guy he put on a Hall of Fame path. It would have been a Disney movie.

But then Harden shoots 39% from the field in 23 playoff games with the Sixers and Morey comes to the realization that Harden can't deliver on the dream.

And that's where we're at.

[Jailblazers7]

I think it’s probably the combination of Harden’s decline & his behavior. If it was only one of those things, then I think Morey would give him a big contract. But the writing is on the wall for Harden at this point. He’s not gonna deliver on court & he’s gonna f*ck up the locker room when he prioritizes his night life.

[Bum Adebayo]

He though Harden was a great player, he was wrong and now that he realized that in playoffs Harden becomes Soften, he doesn't want him any more.

[76ciology]

My guess..

They’ve discussed re-signing Harden to a friendly contract. Something like less than the max but longer duration where we keep resigning him to like 30+M per year till 38 years old or maybe he will be paid via bonuses where the total amount would recuperate for his “sacrifices” I think its a bit similar to what Wolves did with Joe Smith back then.

But during the season Harden, Harden was singing a different tune when Rox told him they will give him more than what we’re offering. He had one foot out of the door. He gave his superb performance to show the Rox he’s worthy and threw away game 7 to cut our ties with him.

When Rox officialy signed Udoka, its over for Harden. And his gamble didnt pay off. He called the Sixers but they didnt answer because they’re careful for Harden can use it as a blackmail for the team to give in to his demand. Harden then signed that one year deal with the Sixers telling Morey to trade him to the Clippers and was expecting Morey to do a favor for him. But Morey’s like..

“you looked after you and when you made us look stupid in G7 v Celts, im now looking after me now”

[Jhawk03]

Ostracize me all you want, but James is under contract for one more year. Nothing will change this fact.

If he really wants to get PAID, he'll have to look within himself. He's too old, and the NBA isn't about to become a glorified retirement home, despite what Lillard and others are facing. Bottom line is, Tatum and the Celtics stole his lunch money. He has a FULL YEAR to answer for that, and he'll get PAID if he does. Whether he realizes this or not is the underlying issue. He ought to have a chip on his shoulder after game 7, but being 34 going through that embarrassment instead of being 24... without having anybody but Morey hold him accountable breeds entitlement.

It's all about James Harden, he literally controls his destiny for the next 4+ years. Then the owner decides to hold his left hand up while showing his ass and guess what? What a time to be.

[rzzzzz]

James is under contract for one more year. Nothing will change this fact.

Yes, and I wonder how the Simmons tantrum may have effected the current players agreement. It is interesting the lengths that Morey is claiming about following the league rules over the timing of negotiations to the letter of the law. The other bit of purposeful signaling (?) might be that draft day whiteboard photo. Not just who they were keeping, but the positioning.

[fkd215]

My guess..

He gave his superb performance to show the Rox he’s worthy and threw away game 7 to cut our ties with him.

”

Do you think he consciously threw away Game 7? I've wondered about this too...

[76ciology]

My guess..

He gave his superb performance to show the Rox he’s worthy and threw away game 7 to cut our ties with him.

”

Do you think he consciously threw away Game 7? I've wondered about this too...

there’s no way to prove it but I think he did. And whether he did or not, the effect/impact on and off the court is similar to throwing away the game

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

My guess..

He gave his superb performance to show the Rox he’s worthy and threw away game 7 to cut our ties with him.

”

Do you think he consciously threw away Game 7? I've wondered about this too...

there’s no way to prove it but I think he did. And whether he did or not, the effect/impact on and off the court is similar to throwing away the game

I'm not saying he couldn't have done it because I truly do believe that Harden is the epitome of a quitter, but my question is why? Why would he quit in game 7 if he did indeed want another big payday?
I do think him wanting another big payday is a bit far-fetched anyway. He's made his money in this league. He's made more than probably 90% of the players in this league. He's upper echelon when it comes to riches. Maybe he did throw the game? It's an interesting theory.

FWIW I can tell you the exact moment in that game when he did pack it in and quit. It was on the flagrant call he got hit with for kicking Jaylen Brown I believe. That call/play not only shifted then entire momentum of that game in the favor of Boston, but it was also the point where Harden completely quit.

[eyeatoma]

Harden throwing the game would be out there. I can't see Embiid being okay with that if that's the running theory. If it's been proven, or insiders said it, then the team/players would know too right?

Seems like his teammates have no issues with him, I don't see that happening if he threw the game.

[76ciology]

Do you think he consciously threw away Game 7? I've wondered about this too...

there’s no way to prove it but I think he did. And whether he did or not, the effect/impact on and off the court is similar to throwing away the game

I'm not saying he couldn't have done it because I truly do believe that Harden is the epitome of a quitter, but my question is why? Why would he quit in game 7 if he did indeed want another big payday?
I do think him wanting another big payday is a bit far-fetched anyway. He's made his money in this league. He's made more than probably 90% of the players in this league. He's upper echelon when it comes to riches. Maybe he did throw the game? It's an interesting theory.

FWIW I can tell you the exact moment in that game when he did pack it in and quit. It was on the flagrant call he got hit with for kicking Jaylen Brown I believe. That call/play not only shifted then entire momentum of that game in the favor of Boston, but it was also the point where Harden completely quit.

My guess is..

Because he’d be making more $ per game (total contract divided by amount of game) by quitting? Playing less games on a fixed amount of salary per year.

While he’s like an employee who HATED his job and who’s on the last day of his job while already have one feet out the door with his heart and mind already out, with a better offer from the other company.

He finds it TOXIC here with the coach asking him to play a certain way and he has to defer alot (not just slightly) to Embiid. Thats why he felt so much fun and freedom on those two games against the Celts, more on game 1.

And he HATED his job here. To start, he wanted to get the other guys involved by Doc told him to keep feeding Embiid. While he experienced very “humbling” experience where the outside world looks at him as an afterthought. He didnt even made it to the allstar game, this is despite leading the league in assists and was one of the best players in some metrics (bkref mvp tracker).

He was so disrespected. For instance, in my country which i believe to be one of the biggest consumers of basketball shoes, we hardly sell James Harden shoes in our Adidas shops here. Its mostly Trae Young and even Derrick Rose’s signature lines.

Who knows? Maybe he even made some money in Vegas to make up for all the sacrifices since he’s already on his way out. I’d do that if i was him. I’ll just ask lil baby, 4th to 8th degree to make the bet for me.

[76ciology]

From Harden’s perspective.. why would he want to play here in the next 3-5 years? It’s clear that his fame is diminishing with the style we want him to play. Glorified Derek Fisher who’s primary role is doing an entry pass to our Shaq.

Rockets was willing to pay him more than we do. Maybe Fertita screwed us on this BTW.

He looked at the Clippers and he probably got some promise from Balmer for a big pay day if he becomes their mercenary to end the Kawhi-PG era with a bang. Clipps also pretty much would erase everything from their cap in next year’s offseason so there’s a good chance they are more willing to pay Harden more than we do. I also think maybe Clips perimeter/switch heavy game is the style Harden prefers.

Think about it.. you’re on your last day at work on a job you hate. Working with people you hate. While you know, you’d be working for a more financially lucrative job with the working environment you dream of (houston strip club and he’s well respected of houston) tomorrow.

How will you spend your last day at work?

[Warfelg]

My guess?

He was going to offer 3/$120-140. That would be in the $40-$44MM AAV area.

He needed to wait for the legal tampering period though because of the investigation over Tucker, and accusations of a wink wink deal. If word got out that a new deal was reached it’s game over. And he can’t say anything but reports are he did communicate he wanted to do something.

I don’t think he anticipated Harden getting hurt hurt over not understanding the optics and reality of the situation. Hence the shock to him opting in. I think he anticipated Harden opting out to make the offer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Negrodamus]

From Harden’s perspective.. why would he want to play here in the next 3-5 years? It’s clear that his fame is diminishing with the style we want him to play. Glorified Derek Fisher who’s primary role is doing an entry pass to our Shaq.

Rockets was willing to pay him more than we do. Maybe Fertita screwed us on this BTW.

He looked at the Clippers and he probably got some promise from Balmer for a big pay day if he becomes their mercenary to end the Kawhi-PG era with a bang. Clipps also pretty much would erase everything from their cap in next year’s offseason so there’s a good chance they are more willing to pay Harden more than we do. I also think maybe Clips perimeter/switch heavy game is the style Harden prefers.

Think about it.. you’re on your last day at work on a job you hate. Working with people you hate. While you know, you’d be working for a more financially lucrative job with the working environment you dream of (houston strip club and he’s well respected of houston) tomorrow.

How will you spend your last day at work?

He put up prime Steve Nash numbers in the regular season. I think we can give him a little more credit than glorified Derek Fisher. I don’t think anyone was telling him to shoot less. I’m fact, Embiid explicitly said he wanted him to look for his shot more.

[Jailblazers7]

The only thing that can increase Garden’s fame is winning a ring & we’re his best bet to get one. Harden is just not a rational person. He wants to get paid & treated like a player he simply isn’t anymore & no amount of logic can get around that fact.

[fkd215]

My guess?

He was going to offer 3/$120-140. That would be in the $40-$44MM AAV area."

That's right around my guess too. I imagine Morey's first offer would be 3/$120M, team option on the third year, and then they'd negotiate from there about increasing it a little, length, and about the option. But I really think Morey expected a successful negotiation and for Harden to be here for at least 3 more years. Of course it's all guesswork...

[Tony Franciosa]

I don't know about the quitting thing. I think he was just gassed.

Getting to the ECF would have definitely increased his value (to us and anyone else), especially if he played out of his mind in an elimination Game 7. He wasn't capable of reaching that level for whatever reason.

[Jhawk03]

I don't know about the quitting thing. I think he was just gassed.

Getting to the ECF would have definitely increased his value (to us and anyone else), especially if he played out of his mind in an elimination Game 7. He wasn't capable of reaching that level for whatever reason.

Exactly this, he didn't quit because he would've been called out by both former and current players by now. By saying he was throwing game 7 for whatever monetary reason is giving him a pass, and doesn't even make sense because... Bottom line, he could've easily gotten paid by simply getting past Boston and getting to the ECF.