Re: James Harden's Camp Told Sixers They'd 'Put Them In Some Pain' After Ending Trade Talks

[RealGM Wiretap]

James Harden responded to the decision from the Philadelphia 76ers that they've ended trade talks by calling Daryl Morey "a liar." Harden's representatives reportedly communicated to the Sixers that there would be a response to escalate the situation. Harden would like a trade from the Sixers to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"When James Harden and his agents were informed over the weekend that they were not going to continue with trade talks," said Brian Windhorst on ESPN on Wednesday. "That Philadelphia was going to shut that down. You can imagine he was very upset.

"It was communicated to the Sixers that they were going to put them in some pain as a result of this. That's what James Harden did with those comments on Monday morning in China. He put the Sixers in some pain.

"My guess is he may not be done with it. There may be other opportunities for him to really squeeze the Sixers to try to make them to reconsider this position.

"I think his frustration is that they won't trade him. He understood that his contract wasn't going to be extended there. In lieu of that, he wanted to get traded. When that didn't happen, obviously you can see he's lashing out. Unfortunately, the situation has really deteriorated from what I've been told."

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[alienpick]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

[dan-man]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

100%. There's also another obscure rule in the CBA that can negatively impact his free agency next summer if he fails to execute his duty in the final year on this contract.

[Billl]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

[GoSixersBro]

Nothing more than a mercenary, except teams bring him in to lose.

[the_process]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

No that's not how it worked. Harden had to decide on his team option before FA started. So he hadn't talked to anyone from the Sixers yet. Therefore when he opted in there was no promise. And after he opted in and he spoke to the team and told them he wanted a trade, he was told they would do their best to accommodate him. In other words, again not a promise. But Harden didn't hear the words, he only felt the emotions.

In any case, this is still Morey's fault because he knows that Harden is going to lash out if he doesn't get his way. But Morey is stubborn as a mule and has a high risk tolerance, a wonderful/terrible combination.

[beefman]

**** ya. i hope Harden ruins the Sixers season and turn the locker room so toxic.

[elmdawgg69]

The Sixers hold all the leverage here. They don’t have to pay Harden a cent. He’ll feel it in his pockets, and his endorsement deals won’t be renewed.

Harden is the only one feeling pain. He’ll look like a woke and whiny immature child complaining about making $35 million.

Sixers will be better off with Maxey and increased role for Tobias anyway. Embiid is guaranteed to win MVP.

[YourGM99]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

No that's not how it worked. Harden had to decide on his team option before FA started. So he hadn't talked to anyone from the Sixers yet. Therefore when he opted in there was no promise. And after he opted in and he spoke to the team and told them he wanted a trade, he was told they would do their best to accommodate him. In other words, again not a promise. But Harden didn't hear the words, he only felt the emotions.

In any case, this is still Morey's fault because he knows that Harden is going to lash out if he doesn't get his way. But Morey is stubborn as a mule and has a high risk tolerance, a wonderful/terrible combination.

You don’t think he had discussions with them prior to his opt in? It was reported that he was considering going back to Houston, if Houston was going to pay him max salary he would’ve know ahead of time to opt out of his contract. There’s obviously negotiations going on between players, agents, and teams before decisions are made. That’s why you see players immediately agreeing to contracts as soon as free agency starts.

[HotelVitale]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

Except he immediately said he would only go to one team and that team didn’t offer any ‘assets.’ And Harden had no options if he went to free agency either. I get you might want Harden to be the good guy but there isn’t a simple story here.

[luciano-davidwesley]

Harden thinks he is still young and good enough to throw leverage tantrums like this.

If he's not careful he'll start to get the Demarcus Cousins/Carmelo Anthony blackballed treatment.

The juice isn't worth the squeeze for teams when it comes to Harden.

[alienpick]

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

No that's not how it worked. Harden had to decide on his team option before FA started. So he hadn't talked to anyone from the Sixers yet. Therefore when he opted in there was no promise. And after he opted in and he spoke to the team and told them he wanted a trade, he was told they would do their best to accommodate him. In other words, again not a promise. But Harden didn't hear the words, he only felt the emotions.

In any case, this is still Morey's fault because he knows that Harden is going to lash out if he doesn't get his way. But Morey is stubborn as a mule and has a high risk tolerance, a wonderful/terrible combination.

You don’t think he had discussions with them prior to his opt in? It was reported that he was considering going back to Houston, if Houston was going to pay him max salary he would’ve know ahead of time to opt out of his contract. There’s obviously negotiations going on between players, agents, and teams before decisions are made. That’s why you see players immediately agreeing to contracts as soon as free agency starts.

Making pre-free agency deals was cracked down on hard last year. Pre free agency deals are illegal according to the CBA. Harden had to make a choice and chose to take the cash, then tried to demand a trade; which is counter to taking the cash. He basically tried to secure the guaranteed money and then act like a free agent. Doesn't work that way.

Harden was free to turn down the player option and then talk to Houston or LA about joining them. The problem is; he wanted the Clippers but they couldn't sign him straight out; so he basically needed a sign and trade, but if he turned down the player option then he wouldn't be on a team for the Clippers to trade for him. In the end; the Clippers don't seem to have really wanted him anyway. It was all in Harden's head, and now he's throwing a spoiled fit over the choices he made, not working out.

[alienpick]

Harden thinks he is still young and good enough to throw leverage tantrums like this.

If he's not careful he'll start to get the Demarcus Cousins/Carmelo Anthony blackballed treatment.

The juice isn't worth the squeeze for teams when it comes to Harden.

Yep, Starbury comes to mind as well. He'll be playing in China REAL quick.

[alienpick]

Then don't pickup the player option and go sign with another team in free agency, or work a sign and trade with a team that actually wants you. It's like Harden and his camp are three years old. It's a CONTRACT to play basketball for the Sixers that you agreed to and picked up the option on. If he makes things a living hell for the Sixers then they should move to have his contract cancelled for failure to execute his part of he contract.

100%. There's also another obscure rule in the CBA that can negatively impact his free agency next summer if he fails to execute his duty in the final year on this contract.

Thanks for reminding me about that.. I'm guessing that rule is going to be tested this year... unless the Clippers actually want to make a trade or Harden opens up his team list. I'm feeling it's going to be a Chinese team in Harden's future REAL soon.

[HotelVitale]

He opted in because the team told him they would trade him and that this would allow them to get to some assets back. It should have been a win-win, but they lied and are screwing him over.

No that's not how it worked. Harden had to decide on his team option before FA started. So he hadn't talked to anyone from the Sixers yet. Therefore when he opted in there was no promise. And after he opted in and he spoke to the team and told them he wanted a trade, he was told they would do their best to accommodate him. In other words, again not a promise. But Harden didn't hear the words, he only felt the emotions.

In any case, this is still Morey's fault because he knows that Harden is going to lash out if he doesn't get his way. But Morey is stubborn as a mule and has a high risk tolerance, a wonderful/terrible combination.

You don’t think he had discussions with them prior to his opt in? It was reported that he was considering going back to Houston, if Houston was going to pay him max salary he would’ve know ahead of time to opt out of his contract. There’s obviously negotiations going on between players, agents, and teams before decisions are made. That’s why you see players immediately agreeing to contracts as soon as free agency starts.

The story Harden put out was that the Sixers didn’t talk to him before FA and that was actually what pissed him off (since like you said most ppl negotiate before FA actually starts). Felt upset the Sixers didn’t work something out and maybe told him to test waters in FA. So sounds kinda disrespectful but it’s not a ‘lie.’

[IWishIWasHarden]

Gangster.

[76thBearCub]

Just the beginning? More like the beginning of the end for Harden in the NBA

[cheese318]

James Harden’s camp should be fired because all he has to do is not resign the PO and guess what he’d be able to play anywhere he wants. Guy was scared he couldn’t get $36M/year and that’s the reality. I think he would have but PHI would have had to assist S&T but he would have had much more control to leave than he does now. PHI is not going to get a star player and picks for harden at this point. This is going to get ugly and you have to believe that his value has only gone down this week when it comes to trade talks with other teams

[kombayn]

Let him go. He's a headache at this point.

[Pickled Prunes]

I think it's interesting that so many people are taking Morey's side. I don't have a side because I don't really know what happened, but if Harden took a pay cut last season with an understanding that he'd be taken care of on the back end... he should be pissed and demand a trade. Like I said, I don't know what happened, but I think that's what we've all believed to be the case since last summer.