Why did James Harden want to leave the Nets?

[Slim Charlez]

Kyrie for sure. If I'm Brooklyn I'm looking to move him along ASAP as well. You want to be considered a serious franchise? Get people like Kyrie outta there. Find a sucker who'd take him and try to get reliable pieces alongside KD and Simmons.

[hoosierdaddy34]

IMO, reading the tea leaves…it really seems like he didn’t take Kyrie seriously. He didn’t like Kyrie playing part time and only being bought in for 45% of their games. It all started to go downhill after Kyrie came back. And I get it. Why am I going out and battling every night and this dude is too busy on his political stance to be there for us? I am not a Harden fan, in fact I find him and his style of play annoying. But he’s absolutely right here. Kyrie being allowed to play gives off the vibes that the organization isn’t committed to winning and isn’t a serious organization. So why would he waste his last couple seasons of potentially winning a title on them?

"Reading the tea leaves" means reading the future from signs in the present.

EDIT: I mean, very reasonable opinion, though. You actually made me look up the phrase to make sure I wasn't wrong about the meaning myself. Iron sharpens iron.

Yeah you are right, probably a more accurate way to phrase that.

[Gramercy Riffs]

Watch on YouTube

Patty Mills visibly annoyed at the bottom, Kyrie tunes him out, everyone walks off while he goes ISO.

That was his final game as a Net.

Lol, you're ridiculous. Your interpretation of the back of Patty's head is "visibly annoyed"? I get that you need to build a case against Harden to show your loyalty but you can't just make stuff up.

Please avoid personal attacks. Don't tell people they are ridiculous. Tell them their post is ridiculous. I know it's just semantics to a degree but them's the rules. -b

holy ****, you got a warning for calling someone ridiculous. I don't even think a pre-schooler gets reprimanded for that.

This is the most groundless warning I've ever seen. You're embarrassing yourself mod. Must be a Nets fan.

[SalmonsSuperfan]

Harden is a quitter.

When the going gets tough he gets going.

Could have at least waited for KD to get back and try to go on a run.

Instead he ran for the nearest exit.

Lets see what happens when hes the #1 guy in the clutch again. So far hes been a disaster in those moments.

this obviously derives from kyrie's behavior tho. i would be pissed too if i were harden, and if he has the leverage to force a trade away from a team whose championship success is being torpedoed by a guy's unwillingness to stick a needle in his arm, ostensibly because he's a conspiracy theorist who believes in things like that the earth is flat, it makes sense that he would do it. KD doesn't do it because it's "his team" and his legacy.

kyrie obviously doesn't take winning or his job seriously, which whatever, fair enough, it's just a ball game, but this fiasco is almost entirely on him. feel bad for KD in a way, he's a consummate professional, but have to laugh that he blew his chance at a dynasty that would have probably been the best team that the sport has ever seen -- maybe in any sport.

[scrabbarista]

Y'all chill on modding the mod! "You're ridiculous" is clearly a direct, personal insult. It means, basically, "Everyone should laugh at you." There's no place for direct personal attacks on here. That's a basic tenet of civil discourse.

(Indirect personal attacks are another story. )

[PhilBlackson]

In short...Kyrie's availability or lack thereof.

[ty 4191]

https://www.insider.com/why-james-harden-wanted-out-of-nets-to-join-sixers-2022-2

James Harden spent just one year with the Brooklyn Nets and found it wasn't what he wanted.

On Thursday, Harden was traded from the Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers, just one year after forcing a trade from the Rockets to the Nets.

Though Harden had publicly said he wanted to chase championships on the star-studded Nets, recent reports have indicated that Harden had grown frustrated and a bit disillusioned with the situation in Brooklyn. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday morning that Harden did indeed want a trade to the 76ers but was hesitant to officially ask for one out of fear of public backlash.

ESPN's Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne both said on "The Lowe Post" podcast that what Harden was experiencing in Brooklyn wasn't "what he signed up for."

"The idea was, you're gonna go win a championship and be part of a three-headed monster super-team," Shelburne said. "And mostly what he's found is it's kind of still on him all the time, either because Kevin [Durant's] hurt or Kyrie [Irving's] out because of the vaccination status, his part-time player status."

Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported earlier that Harden had grown frustrated with Irving's part-time role. Irving, because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19, cannot play home games in Brooklyn. Harden had joked with reporters that he would give Irving the jab himself.

On the podcast, Lowe echoed this, saying Irving's absence, combined with injuries, was making life difficult for Harden.

"A lot of this, I think, starts with Kyrie Irving's decision not to get vaccinated … It has affected the team, it's made them thin, and when you combine that with Durant and Joe Harris being injured, they're just suddenly thin," Lowe said.

"And James Harden, I have heard that he's frustrated with the lack of spacing on the team. And the reason they don't have spacing very often is because two or three of their best shooters slash only good shooters are out."

The Nets are on a nine-game losing streak, falling to eighth in the Eastern Conference, which puts them in the play-in tournament. During this stretch, Durant has been out with a knee sprain. Irving has played road games but shot just 39% over his last five games. Harden has put up subpar numbers, leading some to question if he had mentally checked out from Brooklyn. He has missed the last three games with hamstring tightness.

Before the season, Harden turned down an extension from the Nets. He told ESPN's Malika Andrews in September that he wanted to experience free agency for the first time in his career but added: "It's going to be very, very difficult to leave here."

Fischer also reported that Harden wasn't enjoying living in Brooklyn and missed being a "central magnate" in Houston.

The Sixers were a ready-made fit

There was a sense that when the Nets became whole again, this period of turmoil might go away. Across two seasons, the Nets were 13-3 with Durant, Harden, and Irving on the floor. It rarely happened, but the Nets were excellent when all three were healthy.

But there was no guarantee of that, especially with no resolution in sight to Irving's part-time role. The Nets faced the possibility of playing a Game 7 at home without Irving.

The 76ers, meanwhile, offered a ready-made situation for Harden: they're a borderline contender, with an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid and in need of a lead ball-handler. Though they had to give up Seth Curry in the trade, they have the shooting to make life easier for Harden.

They also offered familiarity for Harden — Sixers GM Daryl Morey oversaw the trade that brought Harden to the Rockets in 2012. They worked together for eight more years, and Harden asked out of Houston shortly after Morey resigned. Harden is also close with Sixers governor Michael Rubin.

While it may seem like Harden's trade wish from Brooklyn was about being able to play his way, reports suggest the opposite: Harden was looking to compete for a championship and play alongside players that could shoulder the load. There was no shortage of star power in Brooklyn, but there was less certainty that Harden could rely on his star teammates when it mattered most.

[rockmanslim]

It's so amusing how people do a complete 180 on players the moment they leave their team.

Watch on YouTube

[NetsWorld]

IMO, reading the tea leaves…it really seems like he didn’t take Kyrie seriously. He didn’t like Kyrie playing part time and only being bought in for 45% of their games. It all started to go downhill after Kyrie came back. And I get it. Why am I going out and battling every night and this dude is too busy on his political stance to be there for us? I am not a Harden fan, in fact I find him and his style of play annoying. But he’s absolutely right here. Kyrie being allowed to play gives off the vibes that the organization isn’t committed to winning and isn’t a serious organization. So why would he waste his last couple seasons of potentially winning a title on them?

Agreed BUT THAT DOES NOT excuse him from quitting on his second team. Harden has pretty much removed the veil in that his plan was to always go to Philly since last year. The Nets buckling just made it easier for him to request a trade instead of sitting with KD/Marks and discussing where to address needs. Of course, on the Nets side of things, they were hamstrung and couldn't really wheel and deal due to no assets being available. Also, KD wasn't trading Kyrie nor did any team want him.

[Gramercy Riffs]

Y'all chill on modding the mod! "You're ridiculous" is clearly a direct, personal insult. It means, basically, "Everyone should laugh at you." There's no place for direct personal attacks on here. That's a basic tenet of civil discourse.

(Indirect personal attacks are another story. )

You're ridiculous is not a personal insult. It's an invitation to others to laugh at that person's behavior. Which behavior? Suggesting the back of Patty's head illustrated visible annoyance. Ridiculing someone for their behavior is not a personal attack or insult.

It's the difference between "You are _____." and "Your behavior is _____."

[scrabbarista]

Y'all chill on modding the mod! "You're ridiculous" is clearly a direct, personal insult. It means, basically, "Everyone should laugh at you." There's no place for direct personal attacks on here. That's a basic tenet of civil discourse.

(Indirect personal attacks are another story. )

You're ridiculous is not a personal insult. It's an invitation to others to laugh at that person's behavior. Which behavior? Suggesting the back of Patty's head illustrated visible annoyance. Ridiculing someone for their behavior is not a personal attack or insult.

It's the difference between "You are _____." and "Your behavior is _____."

"You're ridiculous."

[Gramercy Riffs]

Y'all chill on modding the mod! "You're ridiculous" is clearly a direct, personal insult. It means, basically, "Everyone should laugh at you." There's no place for direct personal attacks on here. That's a basic tenet of civil discourse.

(Indirect personal attacks are another story. )

You're ridiculous is not a personal insult. It's an invitation to others to laugh at that person's behavior. Which behavior? Suggesting the back of Patty's head illustrated visible annoyance. Ridiculing someone for their behavior is not a personal attack or insult.

It's the difference between "You are _____." and "Your behavior is _____."

"You're ridiculous."

I unambiguously articulated what was ridiculous. It's entirely dishonest to ignore context.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Harden is a quitter.

When the going gets tough he gets going.

Sounds like Durant

Yes KD is a quitter cause he wanted to leave Westbrick

[Hello Brooklyn]

Harden is a quitter.

When the going gets tough he gets going.

Could have at least waited for KD to get back and try to go on a run.

Instead he ran for the nearest exit.

Lets see what happens when hes the #1 guy in the clutch again. So far hes been a disaster in those moments.

this obviously derives from kyrie's behavior tho. i would be pissed too if i were harden, and if he has the leverage to force a trade away from a team whose championship success is being torpedoed by a guy's unwillingness to stick a needle in his arm, ostensibly because he's a conspiracy theorist who believes in things like that the earth is flat, it makes sense that he would do it. KD doesn't do it because it's "his team" and his legacy.

kyrie obviously doesn't take winning or his job seriously, which whatever, fair enough, it's just a ball game, but this fiasco is almost entirely on him. feel bad for KD in a way, he's a consummate professional, but have to laugh that he blew his chance at a dynasty that would have probably been the best team that the sport has ever seen -- maybe in any sport.

He can be annoyed about Kyrie. But he still had KD. Who is on the verge of coming back.

Nets were again #2 in the East till KD's injury. Kyrie wasn't the only thing that mattered.

[Zvaart]

I strongly dislike Harden as a player, but if he left out of frustration with the flat earther i can totally understand it and cannot blame him.

[tosi]

Its obviously because of World B Flat

[hoosierdaddy34]

IMO, reading the tea leaves…it really seems like he didn’t take Kyrie seriously. He didn’t like Kyrie playing part time and only being bought in for 45% of their games. It all started to go downhill after Kyrie came back. And I get it. Why am I going out and battling every night and this dude is too busy on his political stance to be there for us? I am not a Harden fan, in fact I find him and his style of play annoying. But he’s absolutely right here. Kyrie being allowed to play gives off the vibes that the organization isn’t committed to winning and isn’t a serious organization. So why would he waste his last couple seasons of potentially winning a title on them?

Agreed BUT THAT DOES NOT excuse him from quitting on his second team. Harden has pretty much removed the veil in that his plan was to always go to Philly since last year. The Nets buckling just made it easier for him to request a trade instead of sitting with KD/Marks and discussing where to address needs. Of course, on the Nets side of things, they were hamstrung and couldn't really wheel and deal due to no assets being available. Also, KD wasn't trading Kyrie nor did any team want him.

No doubt it’s obvious Philly was his primary choice. Probably should have just told the Nets at the time, he was only signing with the Sixers or was going to force his way there. But that’s what Anthony Davis did and everyone hated him for that too. You or I can choose to get a job in the places we want to live in, and/or can choose a company we work for. But if a player does it then they get admonished for it and people act like they slept with their sister. I don’t know man but it seems the system often causes more problems like these than the sport truly needs.

[bebopdeluxe]

Harden is a quitter.

When the going gets tough he gets going.

Could have at least waited for KD to get back and try to go on a run.

Instead he ran for the nearest exit.

Lets see what happens when hes the #1 guy in the clutch again. So far hes been a disaster in those moments.

this obviously derives from kyrie's behavior tho. i would be pissed too if i were harden, and if he has the leverage to force a trade away from a team whose championship success is being torpedoed by a guy's unwillingness to stick a needle in his arm, ostensibly because he's a conspiracy theorist who believes in things like that the earth is flat, it makes sense that he would do it. KD doesn't do it because it's "his team" and his legacy.

kyrie obviously doesn't take winning or his job seriously, which whatever, fair enough, it's just a ball game, but this fiasco is almost entirely on him. feel bad for KD in a way, he's a consummate professional, but have to laugh that he blew his chance at a dynasty that would have probably been the best team that the sport has ever seen -- maybe in any sport.

He can be annoyed about Kyrie. But he still had KD. Who is on the verge of coming back.

Nets were again #2 in the East till KD's injury. Kyrie wasn't the only thing that mattered.

Do you think that Harden was frustrated that KD - the leader of the team and the driving force currently for the Nets franchise - was unwilling to go to Kyrie and put his own credibility on the line to tell Kyrie how his decision was ridiculously selfish?

I bet he was.

[Hello Brooklyn]

this obviously derives from kyrie's behavior tho. i would be pissed too if i were harden, and if he has the leverage to force a trade away from a team whose championship success is being torpedoed by a guy's unwillingness to stick a needle in his arm, ostensibly because he's a conspiracy theorist who believes in things like that the earth is flat, it makes sense that he would do it. KD doesn't do it because it's "his team" and his legacy.

kyrie obviously doesn't take winning or his job seriously, which whatever, fair enough, it's just a ball game, but this fiasco is almost entirely on him. feel bad for KD in a way, he's a consummate professional, but have to laugh that he blew his chance at a dynasty that would have probably been the best team that the sport has ever seen -- maybe in any sport.

He can be annoyed about Kyrie. But he still had KD. Who is on the verge of coming back.

Nets were again #2 in the East till KD's injury. Kyrie wasn't the only thing that mattered.

Do you think that Harden was frustrated that KD - the leader of the team and the driving force currently for the Nets franchise - was unwilling to go to Kyrie and put his own credibility on the line to tell Kyrie how his decision was ridiculously selfish?

I bet he was.

How can KD force Kyrie to get a shot? Thats so ridicolous.

Also who knows what private conversations they had.

[bebopdeluxe]

He can be annoyed about Kyrie. But he still had KD. Who is on the verge of coming back.

Nets were again #2 in the East till KD's injury. Kyrie wasn't the only thing that mattered.

Do you think that Harden was frustrated that KD - the leader of the team and the driving force currently for the Nets franchise - was unwilling to go to Kyrie and put his own credibility on the line to tell Kyrie how his decision was ridiculously selfish?

I bet he was.

How can KD force Kyrie to get a shot? Thats so ridicolous.

Also who knows what private conversations they had.

I did not say that KD could force Kyrie to get vaccinated. However, the reality is by not being vaccinated, Kyrie in essence is bailing on his team...and it was Harden that was forced to pick up the slack. it is one think when players are injured. It is another thing when players make voluntary decisions that force others to cover for them. It was obviously a huge issue for Harden, and my guess is Harden WAS frustrated that KD was not more vocal about how Kyrie's decisions were impacting the team.

It doesn't matter anymore.