James Harden's time with the Philadelphia 76ers appears to be dragging towards a bitter end with the former MVP angry with the way the organisation has handled his contract situation.
After weeks of uncertainty over the 33-year-old's future in Philadelphia since their elimination in the Eastern Conference semi-finals at the hands of the Boston Celtics, Harden opted into his $35.6million (£28m) salary for next season just before Thursday's deadline.
However, although he is contracted to the 76ers, it appears he has played his last game for the franchise. ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports the player and the team will work together to facilitate a trade for the 10-time All-Star.
The decision to part ways is a dramatic change in the landscape from just a few days ago, when Harden was said to be encouraged and impressed by his meetings with new head coach Nick Nurse.
But, according to The Athletic, Harden has been left "extremely upset" with the way his contract situation has been handled and he has "made his dissatisfaction clear to the organisation".
Harden reportedly feels the 76ers were "forcing" him to test the open market before offering a contract extension, which was expected to be handed to him after he signed a discounted deal with the team last summer.
The former Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets star signed a two-year $68.6m (£54m) contract in 2022 after opting out of his $47.4m (£37.3m) salary to give the team more flexibility to strengthen the roster, with PJ Tucker and De'Anthony Melton among the players brought on board for a push for the NBA title.
Harden – and much of the league – was under the impression his contract compromise in 2022 would be rewarded this summer with a new, long-term deal.
With more than 10 years in the league under his belt, Harden would be eligible for a max contract of $47.6m (£37.4m) per season, but the 76ers were not willing to offer the 2018 MVP deal of that value over more than a couple of years.
With Harden feeling slighted, he and the team are on the same page that his future lies away from the organisation, and his decision to opt into his contract is mutually beneficial for all parties.
For the team, it helps them recoup assets for a big-time player who could have walked for nothing as a free agent, while Harden benefits from having a guaranteed salary for 2023/24 amid uncertainty over what the market looks like for his services.
Two teams that have emerged as contenders to sign him are the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks, but it remains to be seen if they can negotiate a package with the Sixers that satisfies the player and the team.
