James Harden’s time with Daryl Morey in Philadelphia is over. As first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 76ers agreed to trade Harden to the LA Clippers early Tuesday morning.
Sixers get:
• Nicolas Batum
• Marcus Morris
• Robert Covington
• KJ Martin
• Multiple draft picks
Clippers get:
• James Harden
• P.J. Tucker
• Filip Petrusev
The Sixers are acquiring Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks and a pick swap for James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/fSOkgO5xd3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 31, 2023
A 10-time All-Star and the league’s reigning assists champion, Harden grew publicly disenchanted with Morey — his long-time advocate and the team’s current president of basketball operations — and the Sixers during the offseason. The 34-year-old asked to be traded, with the Clippers serving as both his rumored destination and the only reported suitor for his talents.
Harden’s departure marks the latest development in the 76ers’ attempts to surround reigning Kia MVP Joel Embiid with adequate and willing talent to advance past the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2001. The Sixers acquired Harden in 2022 in exchange for a similarly discontent former All-Star in Ben Simmons.
However, injuries and subpar playoff performances saw Harden fail to bring the breakthrough for which Philadelphia had hoped. Facing the option of free agency this summer, Harden instead picked up his player option for the 2023-24 season.
He followed that up by publicly calling Morey — his general manager during his peak years in Houston and now the 76ers’ president of basketball operations — a “liar” after a trade was not initially found that Philadelphia would agree upon.
“It’s not even about this situation. This is life,” Harden told reporters weeks ago. “When you lose trust in someone, it’s like a marriage. When you lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It’s pretty simple.”
Affairs are simpler for the 76ers now with Harden gone. The former MVP had yet to play this season after missing portions of training camp. Harden was then asked to ramp up his conditioning before officially rejoining the team, with Nurse telling reporters on Sunday that he expected Harden to practice with the team on Halloween before Thursday’s game against Toronto.
Instead, Philadelphia will now fully turn to 22-year-old guard Tyrese Maxey to serve as the No. 2 talent Philadelphia needs next to Embiid. Maxey is averaging 30.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists through the first three games of the season.
The Clippers, meanwhile, bring in a fourth veteran star name to group with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Harden played his first three seasons with Westbrook in Oklahoma City before teaming up with him again briefly in Houston.
Injuries to Leonard and George, as well as the need for another floor-setting guard alongside them, produced the Clippers’ desire to bring Harden to L.A. The franchise is hoping to, at worst, match its team-record Western Conference finals run from 2021 before moving to a new arena in Inglewood for 2024-25.
