James Harden Wants To Be Traded To Philadelphiia; Won’t Formally Demand Trade Due To Public Backlash

[Hello Brooklyn]

Moving $70 mil in salary without taking any salary back is not as easy you may think. Not impossible, but it's not a trivial task.

This.
In this summer, with so few teams with cap space, in a bad economy for teams and with an enormous check for non-tax payers, it's almost impossible. I still have to see a realistic scenario where they dump that salary in the summer. Some people need to read the CBA before giving opinions.
Before the deadline they can do it, but they seem reluctant to do that, maybe because nobody wants him?

If the Nets front office is any good, they would have some intel on whether Morey and Presti have talked about OKC taking Harris' contract. There is obvious precedent there, as it was Presti who ate Horford's brutal contract. Harris is nowhere near as bad, Presti has to get to the salary cap floor anyway. and a year of Harris playing with SGA, Giddey and Dort would help those three grow their game. Presti DGAF about where his team finishes next year, with all the draft capital they have from other teams, and he will probably have no problem flipping Harris again for the last year of his deal.

This is actually fairly straight forward.

Morey obviously wants Harden. Embiid, I am sure, has been brought into the loop and is on board with it as well. Trading Harris and getting nothing back would obviously hurt this season; they would probably look to sign somebody like Thad Young if he is bought out for the balance of the season. But if you can get Harden without giving up any assets, that is an awesome long-term play.

Your move, Sean.

Even if Morey chooses to punt on this season and give up Harris for nothing. Which I think he won't really do.

I still maintain that Simmons won't go play in Orlando or Detroit.

We will see. I think Rich Paul calls those teams and tells them Simmons won't play for them and will immediately demand a trade.

The only logical option will be to send Simmons to Brooklyn.

The Sixers are not the only team capable of tampering.

[Arsenal]

Personally if I was Morey I wouldn't do a deal with BKN....because that could blow up in his face.

People keep talking/treating Harden like he's still the guy from HOU but he's older, slower and becoming more injury prone due to age, likely all that heavy (no pun intended) usage and of course not being in peak physical shape. Not to mention what will his fit with Joel be like?! Personally I like Dame and Beal's fit to play off the ball and roam around the perimeter more as it opens up the floor for Embiid and forces teams to pick their poison. Harden does little to nothing when he isn't on ball, so their offence will likely be a matter of just taking turns other than the occasional drive and lob/drop off to Embiid from Harden. Sure that's an improvement from Ben passing on open dunks but nonetheless I don't think they have some great complimentary fit. Plus no one seems to talk about how Harden chokes in big pressure situations, you think he's going to be able to handle the PHI crowd?! I don't. Then you think of the flipside of the equation and adding Ben to BKN, IF (I know it's a big one) Kyrie eventually complies for his extension or the mandate drops, PHI just f'd themselves...think about it...

Ben would be in THE perfect situation for himself as he'd essentially become a hyper version of Draymond in BKN, they wouldn't need his scoring at all, just to defend and find open shooters which their would be a plethora of if the deal is in fact Ben/Seth. Think about Ben being surrounded by KD, Kyrie, Seth, Patty and Harris -- teams will get their heads bombed on with 3s all day & night just like GSW except they have 2 killers/closers in KD & Kyrie and if you're Morey, you want Harden to rise to the occasion to face off against a pissed off KD in a series while Simmons is locking him down lmao that would end hilariously bad for the Sixers.

So no if I'm Morey, the intelligent thing would be to hold off to the off season and see if one of POR (*ahem*) or OKC (*ahem*) would be interested in helping execute a S&T for Harden while they get Simmons. Send him out West and don't create not only a threat but if fully healthy an even better team than what you made.

Way too many people are prisoners of the moment. Harden didn’t all of a sudden forget how to play over a year.

The Sixers would be getting Harden for a laughable lowball offer. They’re giving up a guy who’s not even playing, keeping Maxey and Thybulle and their core team in the process. They would absolutely destroy the Nets in the proposed trade it’s not even close.

I don’t buy that Harden all of a sudden is garbage and over the hill. He was already playing very well this year and he’ll be even better playing off the attention Embiid draws, then we’ll all be criticizing the Nets and praising Morey for the absolute coup.

You need to understand leverage.

The Nets are forced to do a deal now because otherwise Harden will torpedo their season, then they'll lose him for nothing in the summer.

[chrisab123]

They actually have. Until yesterday no possible contender had cap space to outright sign Harden which gave the Nets leverage. Portland cleared 60$ millions yesterday so they can sign Harden and offer a Harden/Dame pairing if necessary.

The Sixers right now have the power because they're not even forced to clear their cap for the Nets to lose Harden for nothing in the next off season.

Harden is not going to Portland. You are insane if you believe that

Once again for the back row... most strip clubs per capita!

I hated Portland the few times I've been there. No disrespect but over the last few years downtown has become kind of a train wreck. Could be wrong though. That being said...didn't they have drive through strip clubs during the pandemic? That would be like locking a raging alcoholic in a fully stocked bar for 5 days. Or Shawn Kemp in a McDonalds for 20 minutes.

[bebopdeluxe]

So Morey wouldn’t do the trade he was going to do in the at the deadline in the offseason for reasons? Think about what you’re say. There are only 3 teams with capspace in the offseason. OKC, Detroit and San Antonio. Good luck convincing those teams that Ben will be happy there long term. Of course Morey wants to go with the low ball offer right now because he’s also not wasting a MVP season from Embiid. But it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t make the same low ball offer to the Nets in the offseason and instead go through some convulted process of clearing capspace to two of the three teams with space this summer.

OKC has cap space in the offseason? They have SGA extension and Kemba's dead cap. Detroit has only 20 million(?)

So we’re down to two teams with capspace to absorb Simmons and/or Harris…..

The Sixers would have to take back roughly $3 million of salary from OKC in a Harris deal, IIRC. Somebody like Kenrich Williams, who makes roughly $3 million, and has a non-guaranteed deal for next season, would probably be the guy.

[DusterBuster]

So Morey wouldn’t do the trade he was going to do in the at the deadline in the offseason for reasons? Think about what you’re say. There are only 3 teams with capspace in the offseason. OKC, Detroit and San Antonio. Good luck convincing those teams that Ben will be happy there long term. Of course Morey wants to go with the low ball offer right now because he’s also not wasting a MVP season from Embiid. But it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t make the same low ball offer to the Nets in the offseason and instead go through some convulted process of clearing capspace to two of the three teams with space this summer.

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

If Philly knows they have Harden in the bag as a FA, they should just stop negotiations with Brooklyn. Portland would absolutely absorb Simmons' contract into their cap space this summer - they would probably try and find some way to take back Harris too if they can.

I don't put a whole lot of stock in Portland being a threat to sign Harden either, but I do think they would absolutely use all their cap space to absorb Simmons' deal this summer and whatever else the Sixers need to let Philly open up enough cap space to sign Harden outright.

That fits Portland's goal of trying to do a fast rebuild around Dame and the Sixers would likely end up with more assets (POR probably trades a pick or two with absorbing Simmons' deal) AND Harden going that route... and the Nets end up with nothing.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Harden is not going to Portland. You are insane if you believe that

They are not at all a contender with Harden.

And if Harden is willing to go somewhere else than Philly then we can open up sign and trade offers to the whole league.

Its almost certain he gets swapped for Simmons this off season. If not done now.

I don't believe it, but it's a good option if he really wants out of the Nets

Portland will have 60 millions in cap space and 20 millions from a trade exception, if the offer is good they could certainly create something.

The other stuff you're saying is kind of stupid, trade and signs are not out of the cap. A contender would need to create almost 50 millions in cap to sign Harden while sending someone to the Nets.

What are your ideas for that Trade and sign?

If it's almost certain he gets swapped with Simmons in the summer, isn't better for the Nets to get more compensation in the process?

Portland will not be a contender with just Lillard and Harden.

And Harden knows that.

Depends on what you mean by "more compensation."

If its just Green and a FRP then no We can get Green in the off season as well to match salaries.

FRP alone is not worth it. Still an off chance we keep Harden and Nets make a run once KD returns.

[Arsenal]

So Morey wouldn’t do the trade he was going to do in the at the deadline in the offseason for reasons? Think about what you’re say. There are only 3 teams with capspace in the offseason. OKC, Detroit and San Antonio. Good luck convincing those teams that Ben will be happy there long term. Of course Morey wants to go with the low ball offer right now because he’s also not wasting a MVP season from Embiid. But it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t make the same low ball offer to the Nets in the offseason and instead go through some convulted process of clearing capspace to two of the three teams with space this summer.

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

You still don't seem to understand.

PHI can trade Ben into POR's cap for only picks in return.

Then can then clear Harris into OKC's cap by using some of the picks they get for Ben.

Then they can sign Harden outright leaving BKN with ZERO.

[Pointgod]

Moving $70 mil in salary without taking any salary back is not as easy you may think. Not impossible, but it's not a trivial task.

This.
In this summer, with so few teams with cap space, in a bad economy for teams and with an enormous check for non-tax payers, it's almost impossible. I still have to see a realistic scenario where they dump that salary in the summer. Some people need to read the CBA before giving opinions.
Before the deadline they can do it, but they seem reluctant to do that, maybe because nobody wants him?

If the Nets front office is any good, they would have some intel on whether Morey and Presti have talked about OKC taking Harris' contract. There is obvious precedent there, as it was Presti who ate Horford's brutal contract. Harris is nowhere near as bad, Presti has to get to the salary cap floor anyway. and a year of Harris playing with SGA, Giddey and Dort would help those three grow their game. Presti DGAF about where his team finishes next year, with all the draft capital they have from other teams, and he will probably have no problem flipping Harris again for the last year of his deal.

This is actually fairly straight forward.

Morey obviously wants Harden. Embiid, I am sure, has been brought into the loop and is on board with it as well. Trading Harris and getting nothing back would obviously hurt this season; they would probably look to sign somebody like Thad Young if he is bought out for the balance of the season. But if you can get Harden without giving up any assets, that is an awesome long-term play.

Your move, Sean.

OKC doesn’t have the capspace with the SGA extension and incoming rookie contracts. If Derrick Favors declines his 10 million dollar option than I believe they do but other wise they don’t have enough to absorb either Simmons or Harris outright.

[bebopdeluxe]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

Harden won't stay in Philly past this year once he sees the options for Strip Clubs in the area.

Ha. Delilah's will build Harden his own VIP room.

[chrisab123]

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

Harden won't stay in Philly past this year once he sees the options for Strip Clubs in the area.

Ha. Delilah's will build Harden his own VIP room.

Will they retire his number though?

[Hello Brooklyn]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

If Philly knows they have Harden in the bag as a FA, they should just stop negotiations with Brooklyn. Portland would absolutely absorb Simmons' contract into their cap space this summer - they would probably try and find some way to take back Harris too if they can.

I don't put a whole lot of stock in Portland being a threat to sign Harden either, but I do think they would absolutely use all their cap space to absorb Simmons' deal this summer and whatever else the Sixers need to let Philly open up enough cap space to sign Harden outright.

That fits Portland's goal of trying to do a fast rebuild around Dame and the Sixers would likely end up with more assets (POR probably trades a pick or two with absorbing Simmons' deal) AND Harden going that route... and the Nets end up with nothing.

Portland cannot afford both Simmons and Harris lol.

Sixers have to trade Harris right now to clear the space. Which would kill their season and put even more pressure on injury prone Embiid.

Not to mention Simmons may just not want to go to Portland.

Pretty sure Simmons only wants to be in a big market.

[Arsenal]

Once again for the back row... most strip clubs per capita!

They're trash but he's right. If it's a pure numbers game, Portland wins.

This is facts, they are trash, but there's a lot.

Girls in POR haven't learned about OnlyFans yet?

[Mamba81p]

Moving $70 mil in salary without taking any salary back is not as easy you may think. Not impossible, but it's not a trivial task.

This.
In this summer, with so few teams with cap space, in a bad economy for teams and with an enormous check for non-tax payers, it's almost impossible. I still have to see a realistic scenario where they dump that salary in the summer. Some people need to read the CBA before giving opinions.
Before the deadline they can do it, but they seem reluctant to do that, maybe because nobody wants him?

If the Nets front office is any good, they would have some intel on whether Morey and Presti have talked about OKC taking Harris' contract. There is obvious precedent there, as it was Presti who ate Horford's brutal contract. Harris is nowhere near as bad, Presti has to get to the salary cap floor anyway. and a year of Harris playing with SGA, Giddey and Dort would help those three grow their game. Presti DGAF about where his team finishes next year, with all the draft capital they have from other teams, and he will probably have no problem flipping Harris again for the last year of his deal.

This is actually fairly straight forward.

Morey obviously wants Harden. Embiid, I am sure, has been brought into the loop and is on board with it as well. Trading Harris and getting nothing back would obviously hurt this season; they would probably look to sign somebody like Thad Young if he is bought out for the balance of the season. But if you can get Harden without giving up any assets, that is an awesome long-term play.

Your move, Sean.

Thunder are already at the cap floor next year. With Harris they are actually getting closer to luxury tax which is a no-no

[Hello Brooklyn]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

You still don't seem to understand.

PHI can trade Ben into POR's cap for only picks in return.

Then can then clear Harris into OKC's cap by using some of the picks they get for Ben.

Then they can sign Harden outright leaving BKN with ZERO.

OKC does not enough have cap space in the off season.

You have to trade Harris right now.

Which means you give up on this year. And also means you won't have Harris with Harden and Embiid moving forward. And no picks.

You sure thats worth it? Just to hold on to Maxey and Thybulle? I don't think so.

[Arsenal]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

If Philly knows they have Harden in the bag as a FA, they should just stop negotiations with Brooklyn. Portland would absolutely absorb Simmons' contract into their cap space this summer - they would probably try and find some way to take back Harris too if they can.

I don't put a whole lot of stock in Portland being a threat to sign Harden either, but I do think they would absolutely use all their cap space to absorb Simmons' deal this summer and whatever else the Sixers need to let Philly open up enough cap space to sign Harden outright.

That fits Portland's goal of trying to do a fast rebuild around Dame and the Sixers would likely end up with more assets (POR probably trades a pick or two with absorbing Simmons' deal) AND Harden going that route... and the Nets end up with nothing.

This exactly is the threat the Nets are worried about.

[Kordic27]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

You still don't seem to understand.

PHI can trade Ben into POR's cap for only picks in return.

Then can then clear Harris into OKC's cap by using some of the picks they get for Ben.

Then they can sign Harden outright leaving BKN with ZERO.

But is Philly a better team with Simmons (or whatever players Simmons could bring) and Harris, or with an ageing, increasingly injury prone, overweight,defense-averse $40M per year Harden?

[DusterBuster]

POR now also has $60M cap space. And they really want Ben Simmons.

We all know Harden is hell bent on Philly.

He won't go to Portland. Its an empty threat.

Dame is not Embiid. They wouldn't be a serious contender.

You still don't seem to understand.

PHI can trade Ben into POR's cap for only picks in return.

Then can then clear Harris into OKC's cap by using some of the picks they get for Ben.

Then they can sign Harden outright leaving BKN with ZERO.

For what it's worth, the Blazers absolutely would do that in a heartbeat too. Absorbing Simmons and sending out the Pelicans pick, so yeah, the Sixers could actually gain more assets AND still get Harden vs having to give up assets to get Harden from the Nets.

If they know it's in the bag for him to come to Philly as a FA, they will have no problem clearing the cap to do it.

[zshawn10]

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[Arsenal]

This.
In this summer, with so few teams with cap space, in a bad economy for teams and with an enormous check for non-tax payers, it's almost impossible. I still have to see a realistic scenario where they dump that salary in the summer. Some people need to read the CBA before giving opinions.
Before the deadline they can do it, but they seem reluctant to do that, maybe because nobody wants him?

If the Nets front office is any good, they would have some intel on whether Morey and Presti have talked about OKC taking Harris' contract. There is obvious precedent there, as it was Presti who ate Horford's brutal contract. Harris is nowhere near as bad, Presti has to get to the salary cap floor anyway. and a year of Harris playing with SGA, Giddey and Dort would help those three grow their game. Presti DGAF about where his team finishes next year, with all the draft capital they have from other teams, and he will probably have no problem flipping Harris again for the last year of his deal.

This is actually fairly straight forward.

Morey obviously wants Harden. Embiid, I am sure, has been brought into the loop and is on board with it as well. Trading Harris and getting nothing back would obviously hurt this season; they would probably look to sign somebody like Thad Young if he is bought out for the balance of the season. But if you can get Harden without giving up any assets, that is an awesome long-term play.

Your move, Sean.

OKC doesn’t have the capspace with the SGA extension and incoming rookie contracts. If Derrick Favors declines his 10 million dollar option than I believe they do but other wise they don’t have enough to absorb either Simmons or Harris outright.

Someone will take Favors if he opts in. It's not an issue.

Sean Marks knows this, which is why he's negotiating a deal now.

[DoItALL9]

Brooklyn better get Drummond

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