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The first person that I thought after I’d learned the news that James Harden was demanding a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers was Doc Rivers.
He jumped on the Bill Simmons podcast to talk about his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers and how it ended. Specifically, he talked about coaching James Harden. And, boy, it seemed like he’d had a rough go at it.
He described coaching Harden as “challenging.” He broke down exactly what he’d meant by that and it boiled down to the way the 76ers were playing.
“So, yeah, at times, to get him to move it and get him to play the way I needed him to play—I thought the first half of the year, we were the best team in the game. I thought James was playing perfect basketball. He was the point guard of the team. He was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. Then in the second half, he started scoring more, trying to score more, and I thought we got stagnant at times. I thought we changed.”
I didn’t really know what to think of this initially. Why would Harden just all of a sudden change the way he was playing? Especially if what the 76ers were doing was actually working. That just doesn’t make a ton of sense.
But now that Harden is demanding a trade for the third time in four seasons? I think I get it now. When Harden is done with something he is capital D done. He’s not doing it anymore. I think that’s what happened with the 76ers offense and I think that’s what happened with his time in Philadelphia. He was just done.
Harden expected a big contract in Philadelphia after he took a pay cut for the team last season, according to reporting from The Athletic’s Sam Amick. But his market dried up. The Rockets weren’t there to provide him the leverage that he needed to put Philly in a corner and ultimately pay him.
So he created his own leverage. He opted into his deal and told them “Trade me.” He’ll go find a new deal elsewhere. Maybe it won’t be as big, but maybe the situation will be better. Above all else, though? He would be done with the organization that just burned him.
That’s where we are with James Harden. He’s willing to risk it all — a long-term deal and big money — just to make sure he’s not playing in a 76ers uniform next year.
It’s surprising, but it’s hardly shocking. This is James Harden now. It’s what he did with the Rockets before. It’s what he did with the Nets. And, now, it’s what he’s doing with the 76ers.
He’s bringing chaos to the table and telling them to work with it. They don’t have any other choice but to oblige.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Jeff Van Gundy deserved so much better, man. For years, he’s been giving us excellent basketball commentary — along with annoying complaints about officials — on ESPN’s broadcasts.
But, on Friday, he was laid off by the company behind Disney’s on-air talent cuts. Fans were in shock. Charles Curtis has more.
“Jeff Van Gundy, the former NBA coach who had become the leading voice for the NBA on ESPN alongside Mike Breen and Mark Jackson, was let go, according to a report from the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand.
JVG had been at the network for 16 years after a career that included coaching the New York Knicks for seven seasons and the Houston Rockets for four more through 2007.”
The broadcast legitimately will not be the same without Van Gundy. It’s going to be so weird watching and not hearing his voice. Hopefully, someday soon, we’ll hear it on our television sets again.
Shootaround
— Our Prince Grimes is looking at the teams that are best suited for Draymond Green this summer.
— This Chris Duarte trade was so weird and out of nowhere. Bryan Kalbrosky has the breakdown on it.
— Speaking of James Harden, the Clippers seem to be overwhelming favorites to sign him. Blake Schuster has more on that.
— We now know how tall Victor Wembanyama is. He’s…very tall.
Enjoy the weekend, folks!
