As president of basketball operations with the Philadelphia 76ers, Daryl Morey knows his superstar guard James Harden quite well, dating to their eight years together with the Houston Rockets.
While numerous reporters have said a potential Harden-Rockets reunion is a real option in 2023 free agency, Morey continues to insist Harden is focused on trying to win his first NBA title.
Today, Harden’s odds of winning big are much better alongside Joel Embiid on the 39-21 Sixers than they are with a young Rockets group that owns the NBA’s worst record (13-48).
If that priority wins out, the odds would seem to favor Harden staying where he is. Here’s what Morey told Justin Grasso, who covers the 76ers for their SI.com affiliate, regarding the rumors:
That one makes no sense (said with a smile). There just seems … that seems to be invented by someone. Look, I have to be honest. I don’t understand it at all.
Really all that matters is what’s in the players’ heads. I know in all our players’ heads, and James specifically, that he’s just focused on winning here. He’s done everything since he got here to just focus on winning the title. He’s never like … I find all these rumors very hard to believe. For sure, I know the thing that he wants to do is win a title.
If, at some point, he decides we’re not the best place to win, then yeah, let’s have a conversation. But I know he feels like that’s here. And we feel like, for us, it’s with him here. So, to me, it’s sort of like a weird thing that’s come up.
“That one makes no sense … That seems to be invented by someone. Look, I have to be honest. I don't understand it at all."
Sixers' Daryl Morey opened up about the recent Harden rumors, the state of the backup center spot behind Embiid, and morehttps://t.co/Y7hD6saCN6
— Justin Grasso (@JGrasso_) February 27, 2023
Others around the NBA, however, seem to believe Harden has different priorities — like a desire to return to his adopted hometown.
It’s worth noting that the reporters who have continually referenced the Harden-Houston possibility — ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, and The Athletic’s Sam Amick — have significant credibility on a national scale when it comes to NBA coverage.
The reports are from reputable outlets, and the report from Amick and colleague Kelly Iko suggests that even Harden’s Philadelphia teammates believe he may end up in Houston this summer.
Yet, few people know Harden better than Morey, who is also around him on a regular basis in his team’s facilities.
Time will tell as to which side knows the real story.
