Sixers Offseason Thread Part 4

[Ben]

Still over here waiting for the league office to say Harden can’t protest the final year of his contract that he opted into.

Not only that, the league-wide memo re: Lillard seems to indicate that Harden is now subject to discipline.

any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA. We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward.

I mean, that memo JUST went out. To flout it like this with public comments... well, if it's not defamatory-- you lawyers can weight in-- it sure as heck flies in the face of league directions. I'd expect Harden to be fined and not to get paid if he sits out.

I'd also expect him to fake some kind of injury or medical condition in order to try and get paid. Hopefully the league's more on top of that here than they were with Simmons. Otherwise, it'll be crystal-clear that anyone can sit out whenever they want as long as they attribute it to some unprovable ailment. That just can't be allowed.

[FireMorey]

Now that this little drama is aired, Morey can go back into hibernation for the rest of the summer.

[eyeatoma]

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[Warfelg]

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So telegraphing that he’s going to try to get Embiid to request out too? Yea, we’re on player empowerment gone too far.

[eyeatoma]

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[sixers hoops]

Ummm...

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Seriously, people think that Morey promised Harden he'll trade him?

I'm, not sure where the media get's this stuff from. Again, it doesn't make logical sense that Morey said I'll trade you no matter what, obviously it needs to benefit the Sixers.

Morey did say "James has requested a trade and we'll attempt to honor that".

Now Harden hears "Sixers call off trade talks, intend to bring him to camp."

I realize the caveat Morey put in there, but Harden is lacking the appreciation for nuance.

In reality, Morey said he will attempt to honor the trade request. That is a huge difference from promising a trade. Attempting to trade someone doesn’t instill much confidence that it going to happen, and now James is throwing a tantrum.

If he didn’t want to play for the Sixers, then he shouldn’t have opted in. This is going to backfire on him pretty bad. Opting in and requesting a trade the same day makes a mockery of the league. Trying to collect his money, and force a trade to a specific team when nobody is even making a competitive offer isn’t the type of story Silver wants dominating the next few months.

Harden and Lillard both have the right to hold out if they are unhappy. However, Lillard just signed a two year monster extension and Harden just opted into a deals, then demanded trades to specific teams. It’s difficult to get sympathy and public support to go to a desirable destination when you approach the business side of things so sloppy.

If they hold out and fake injuries, it will be interesting to see if the fines hold up. Fortunately for the league, not many owners are willing to let a disgruntled player stick around too long. Most cut their losses. I don’t mind that Morey takes this route, I just dont know if the offers will get much better. I was way off with my Ben predictions, so I’m not too confident about where this will lead.

[Negrodamus]

Imagine if Hinkie and Morey (and Colangelo but he wasn’t part of the nerd pack) both have their NBA careers ended at the hands of the Sixers lol.

[Philly's Best]

He never should step in the building again PERIOD! Morey needs to get realistic with his expectations. If he can't minimally get Morris, Batum, Mann, and some swaps then let Harden sit home all season. Don't care if its paid but he absolutely never sees the inside of the building. He will then only be able to sign for vet minimum forward. Call his bluff and call it publicly. If Joel wants out trade him. Definitely done with the nonsense.

[Negrodamus]

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This is going to be like the Jimmy Butler situation on Minny except Harden gets blown out by 40 with the 3rd stringers and shoots 7-32.

[sixers hoops]

Still over here waiting for the league office to say Harden can’t protest the final year of his contract that he opted into.

Not only that, the league-wide memo re: Lillard seems to indicate that Harden is now subject to discipline.

any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA. We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward.

I mean, that memo JUST went out. To flout it like this with public comments... well, if it's not defamatory-- you lawyers can weight in-- it sure as heck flies in the face of league directions. I'd expect Harden to be fined and not to get paid if he sits out.

I'd also expect him to fake some kind of injury or medical condition in order to try and get paid. Hopefully the league's more on top of that here than they were with Simmons. Otherwise, it'll be crystal-clear that anyone can sit out whenever they want as long as they attribute it to some unprovable ailment. That just can't be allowed.

Harden’s agent didn’t want this, but he is rich and doesn’t care, so he will go rouge.

[Negrodamus]

Valanciunas, Nance, Kira Lewis, and a pick would be enough for me now that he’s completely tanked his value. Pelicans would need to figure out a big man situation, but a team of Harden, McCollum, Ingram, and Zion is honestly hard to beat (if they stay healthy). Harden would average 15 apg.

[FireMorey]

I think it's likely Embiid and Morey already have an understanding about what's to transpire this season. My guess is Morey already told him this season might be a pause year with potential for better because of Nurse, but don't expect much activity until next summer. And I think if Embiid wasn't cool with that you'd have seen the Sixers take a different approach this summer and be more aggressive.

[GoSixersBro]

I think it's likely Embiid and Morey already have an understanding about what's to transpire this season. My guess is Morey already told him this season might be a pause year with potential for better because of Nurse, but don't expect much activity until next summer. And I think if Embiid wasn't cool with that you'd have seen the Sixers take a different approach this summer and be more aggressive.

I sure hope you're right.

[Ben]

I've been disgusted with Harden, but I'm trying to see this from his perspective.

He takes a pay cut last year to help the Sixers' prospects.
This year he has a player option and he wants a long-term deal or to play for the Clippers, but he can't get the first from anyone and he can't do the second b/c the Clips are capped out. He asks Morey to trade him to LAC if he (Harden) opts in, Morey says he'll try.

I'm guessing now that Clips are probably offering only meh expiring contracts, such a Morris, RoCo, and Batum, and nothing else. Salary filler and a deeper, veteran bench. They're like, hey, take it or leave it.

Harden is probably like: look, if I had opted out, you (Sixers) would have been left with nothing, no bench players and capspace next year. This way, you (Sixers) get something-- decent bench players-- and capspace next year. You already got money from me last year when I restructured; you were going to lose me this year anyway; and all I'm asking in return is that you facilitate a move to the Clippers. And you won't even do that because you can't get back value for me, when you wouldn't have gotten anything anyway had I walked. WTH?

Is that a fair assessment? Or am I forgetting something?

Morey could respond by saying, hey, when we traded for you we wanted you for two years. You could played that second year for us this coming year, made $35M, and then we would see what happened next year. But you wanted big money and many years NOW, so you did what you did. We still want you for $35M and we can see what happens next year. But we didn't trade Simmons for 1 year of you.

[Warfelg]

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Wanna bet his agent tells him this and he ignores it?


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[Embiid P]

This, along with the Simmons saga, clearly shows the importance in evaluating a player's character before acquiring them. Far too many teams including the Sixers overlook character in favor of talent and more often than not, when things go bad, they go ugly really fast.

Take an world-class organization like the Eagles which values character in its players. Mind you, they drafted Carter who obviously had some character concerns but as a rookie who's playing with a bunch of former college teammates along with a no-nonsense coaching staff and locker room culture, it's the perfect situation for him to succeed and thus they could afford to take the risk on him. The Sixers really need to take a page out of the Eagles' (and Spurs and Nuggets of the NBA) book.

[Black Mage]

again unlike the Ben situation..I don't see how waiting really changes the package...especially now

just trade him and keep it moving already

Circumstances can change for the Clippers more than the Sixers. The Clippers have no viable PG (we know what that looks like and how it bogs a team down) so if they are listless come December or January; maybe they feel a bit more pressure to get PG and Kawhi a legit floor general.

[Black Mage]

Spoiler:

I've been disgusted with Harden, but I'm trying to see this from his perspective.

He takes a pay cut last year to help the Sixers' prospects.
This year he has a player option and he wants a long-term deal or to play for the Clippers, but he can't get the first from anyone and he can't do the second b/c the Clips are capped out. He asks Morey to trade him to LAC if he (Harden) opts in, Morey says he'll try.

I'm guessing now that Clips are probably offering only meh expiring contracts, such a Morris, RoCo, and Batum, and nothing else. Salary filler and a deeper, veteran bench. They're like, hey, take it or leave it.

Harden is probably like: look, if I had opted out, you (Sixers) would have been left with nothing, no bench players and capspace next year. This way, you (Sixers) get something-- decent bench players-- and capspace next year. You already got money from me last year when I restructured; you were going to lose me this year anyway; and all I'm asking in return is that you facilitate a move to the Clippers. And you won't even do that because you can't get back value for me, when you wouldn't have gotten anything anyway had I walked. WTH?

Is that a fair assessment? Or am I forgetting something?

Morey could respond by saying, hey, when we traded for you we wanted you for two years. You could played that second year for us this coming year, made $35M, and then we would see what happened next year. But you wanted big money and many years NOW, so you did what you did. We still want you for $35M and we can see what happens next year. But we didn't trade Simmons for 1 year of you.

Harden started nonsense about going back to Houston in DECEMBER 2022. If he had a backroom understanding; then he took a pi$$ on it to try and wring ever dollar out of the Sixers.

Harden changed any possible backroom dynamic when he started trying to pump the Sixers for more money/years by hanging Houston over their heads mid-season.

[GutUNC]

I've been disgusted with Harden, but I'm trying to see this from his perspective.

He takes a pay cut last year to help the Sixers' prospects.
This year he has a player option and he wants a long-term deal or to play for the Clippers, but he can't get the first from anyone and he can't do the second b/c the Clips are capped out. He asks Morey to trade him to LAC if he (Harden) opts in, Morey says he'll try.

I'm guessing now that Clips are probably offering only meh expiring contracts, such a Morris, RoCo, and Batum, and nothing else. Salary filler and a deeper, veteran bench. They're like, hey, take it or leave it.

Harden is probably like: look, if I had opted out, you (Sixers) would have been left with nothing, no bench players and capspace next year. This way, you (Sixers) get something-- decent bench players-- and capspace next year. You already got money from me last year when I restructured; you were going to lose me this year anyway; and all I'm asking in return is that you facilitate a move to the Clippers. And you won't even do that because you can't get back value for me, when you wouldn't have gotten anything anyway had I walked. WTH?

Is that a fair assessment? Or am I forgetting something?

Morey could respond by saying, hey, when we traded for you we wanted you for two years. You could played that second year for us this coming year, made $35M, and then we would see what happened next year. But you wanted big money and many years NOW, so you did what you did. We still want you for $35M and we can see what happens next year. But we didn't trade Simmons for 1 year of you.

I completely buy that he left money on the table in last year's free agency and feels bothered that he doesn't have a max contract to show for it. I absolutely do not buy that Morey told him he'd trade him to the Clippers and only the Clippers 2 months before the season starts if he opted in.

[The Servant]

I wish Philly would trade Harden to OKC for:

1st-round pick (OWN) — lease favorable of their 2024 first-rounders to DEN
1st-round pick (HOU, protected 1-4)
1st-round pick (LAC)
1st-round pick (UTA, protected 1-10

You guys could get 4 rookies and our expirings for Harden and OKC could contend next year.