Woj: Harden Opting into $35.6M Player Option and Demanding Trade from Philly; Wants to Play for the Clippers

[MAMBAEMD]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

[HotelVitale]

It’s the new CBA era now, meaning Clippers as a 2nd apron team have a much tougher job of matching salaries to trade. The odds of Harden going to LA have decreased

Not really, think they just have to match the contracts evenly instead of having the 25% window. Limits flexibility some but doesn't make it super complicated or difficult.

Also think that part of the 2nd apron stuff doesn't kick in until next season.

EDIT: if you're over the 2nd apron you can't combine salaries in a deal so that definitely makes it more difficult, but yeah it doesn't kick in until next season.

[Johnny Bball]

Lol, if the Clippers work out a trade for Lillard instead, the Sixers are screwed.

Therefore I expect that the Sixers will be the ones to work out/offer the best deal for Lillard and then trade Harden to the Clippers in a 3 way deal then all of a sudden Morey doesn't hold out for a huge ransom.

The Heat made moves they never would have if they were trading for Lillard. So I don't get that. Although I did say he would still end up in miami two days ago, maybe there was something else happening.

[madmaxmedia]

so you think by bringing in a 3rd team somehow the clippers can land harden by just giving up old players on expiring contracts that they dont even want on their roster? you gotta give up something you like to get something you think puts you over the top.

That’s the rub, I don’t think he puts the Clippers over the top. I meant that for their sake I hope the Sixers will find a better trade out there from another team, than what i think the Clippers should give up.

Hmm, does Norman Powell and some whatever picks put you over the top? Not trying to talk you into the trade, just not sure why you wouldn't take the better chance at a champsionship over the lesser one (and not even bring into the equation cirteria like 'will this make us the clear favorite?').

I’m not opposed to Powell/Morris/picks, but I’d lean against including Terance Mann and Bones Hyland in a trade. If we got to give up guys who can contribute now, I feel like that’s a 2nd round exit at best and even less to look forward to in the future.

I’m probably a little more down on Harden’s age than most though. He is still a good player, just worry how another year (and then another) is going to further his athletic decline.

[JHFVF07]

Wait till we trade Dlo, Reaves and Rui for Harden!

[jstross]

Will Harden pull a Ben Simmons and refuse to play if he doesn't get traded to LA?

[NBA4Lyfe]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

[Vae Victus]

I wonder if a 3 way involving Dame, Harden, and Clips package can be done

POR should just blow it up and get expirings. Dame gives PHI one last chance at glory until he gets washed. Clips consolidate all their non Kawhi/PG13 assets into a 3rd star.

Dame to PHI
POR gets expirings + picks from PHI/LAC
Harden to LAC
Expirings + picks to POR to jumpstart the rebuild around Scoot

Yea... the timing is terrible for POR, if Dame had made his demand before Grant extended, they wouldnt have thta boat anchor of a deal on the books.

[jstross]

Exactly what I was thinking. Sixers might have to toss in Maxey since they have limited tradable picks. Not sure the SIxers want to do that.

I wonder if a 3 way involving Dame, Harden, and Clips package can be done

POR should just blow it up and get expirings. Dame gives PHI one last chance at glory until he gets washed. Clips consolidate all their non Kawhi/PG13 assets into a 3rd star.

Dame to PHI
POR gets expirings + picks from PHI/LAC
Harden to LAC
Expirings + picks to POR to jumpstart the rebuild around Scoot

Yea... the timing is terrible for POR, if Dame had made his demand before Grant extended, they wouldnt have thta boat anchor of a deal on the books.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I'm not an Embiid fan, but in fairness some of this playoff woes are due to injuries- including this season

[MAMBAEMD]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I agree.
My point though is that Embiid is the franchise player. He will not be happy if not surrounded by good players. If PHI just gets back expirings, I can’t imagine him liking that

[NBA4Lyfe]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I'm not an Embiid fan, but in fairness some of this playoff woes are due to injuries- including this season

If he was injured, he should t have rushed back. Especially after the team looked incredible and won game 1 on the road

[NBA4Lyfe]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I agree.
My point though is that Embiid is the franchise player. He will not be happy if not surrounded by good players. If PHI just gets back expirings, I can’t imagine him liking that

That’s just it, he has been surrounded by great players his entire career.

[Eyeamok]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I'm not an Embiid fan, but in fairness some of this playoff woes are due to injuries- including this season

I'm a 76ers fan and I'm tired of the injury excuse. Not just for Embiid but for everyone that plays NBA playoff basketball. Playoff basketball is about teams playing almost every 3 days as hard as they can to move on. It's a formula that is going to produce injuries. No doubt about it. It's the survival of the fittest. You have some of the most athletic men in the world fighting for rebounds running up and down the court at a full pace. Injuries are bound to happen. It's not an excuse it is the way the game is designed. It's designed to be physical, fast paced and action packed, if you get injured oh well next man up.

[zshawn10]

Stein: "Pretty much anyone you speak to around the league says Harden is gonna end up a Clipper. Sixers might be operating with even more patience than the Blazers when it comes to moving Harden.They're trying not to get into the Dame sweepstakes with Maxey."

Stein said Morey is not in a rush to trade Harden and they are in control. But he thinks that at the end of the day, Clippers are a favorite for a reason.

He also said that before the draft, the Clippers gauged Paul George's value. They discovered the return would not be as robust as they hoped for. It has nothing to do with talent but with his injury history, age, and he can opt out. They weren't getting a huge return for him.

Haynes said he thinks and keep hearing that PJ Tucker will also end up a Clipper. Stein agreed.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thisleague-uncut/id1668189953

around 36:30

[HardenGoat]

Stein: "Pretty much anyone you speak to around the league says Harden is gonna end up a Clipper. Sixers might be operating with even more patience than the Blazers when it comes to moving Harden.They're trying not to get into the Dame sweepstakes with Maxey."

Stein said Morey is not in a rush to trade Harden and they are in control. But he thinks that at the end of the day, Clippers are a favorite for a reason.

He also said that before the draft, the Clippers gauged Paul George's value. They discovered the return would not be as robust as they hoped for. It has nothing to do with talent but with his injury history, age, and he can opt out. They weren't getting a huge return for him.

Haynes said he thinks and keep hearing that PJ Tucker will also end up a Clipper. Stein agreed.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thisleague-uncut/id1668189953

around 36:30

Harden got PJ with his discount and they come as a package now. Philly fans rejoice ! Lol

[jstross]

I don't see a deal that works with the Clippers. I'm thinking Harden will just have to play his last season in Philly. If he sits out his career is over. No way he stays in shape with a whole year off.

[bstein14]

I don't see a deal that works with the Clippers. I'm thinking Harden will just have to play his last season in Philly. If he sits out his career is over. No way he stays in shape with a whole year off.

Philly could also just trade him to any other team that wants him. I'm sure some team would take him.

[EricAnderson]

Embiid would be understandably pissed off if the Sixers trade Harden for that crap Clippers deal.
Morey has a lot to juggle here.
He has to appease his big man or he could risk losing him too

Embiid didn’t get along with Brett brown
Clashed with Ben Simmons
Couldn’t win with jimmy butler
No harden wants out

When are people going to start looking at the problem which is Joel embiid is protected and gets no criticism from the media.

Embiid was terrible in the playoffs, and the media is pointing fingers at harden. When harden took the 3rd most shots on the team this year

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=ewtpPCBRmqGoYot4fCMr4w

I'm not an Embiid fan, but in fairness some of this playoff woes are due to injuries- including this season

Which is a problem in itself that he’s always hurt in the playoffs

His injury history is why he wasn’t picked first

[___Rand___]

Philly is saying they don't want to trade Harden. Thinks Harden is in his feels and he can be turned around. So not so fast guys.