The James Harden saga in Philadelphia has taken its latest turn, and the newest development raises inevitable questions about the star guard’s status with the 76ers heading into the regular season next week.
Harden missed practice on Wednesday in Philadelphia, and the absence was unexcused, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. A separate report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo! indicated that Harden is in Houston, just as he was during 76ers media day.
Separately, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the Sixers “plan to give Harden the chance to explain the unexcused absence” before deciding on any punishment.
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Harden has made it known all summer that he has lost trust with 76ers executive Daryl Morey and would like to be traded, but Harden has remained a member of the Sixers after the team called off trade talks involving the guard before training camp. Philadelphia had discussions with Harden’s preferred destination, the Clippers, but did not receive a trade package offer that they were interested in agreeing upon.
The 76ers and Clippers met again in recent days to discuss a trade centered around Harden, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that a “sizable gap” remains and that there’s been little movement for months on a potential deal.
With the 76ers eight days away from the start of the regular season in Milwaukee, it remains to be seen if Harden will be suiting up for Philadelphia to play one of its most formidable foes in a quest for an Eastern Conference title.
