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. The deal was officially announced on Wednesday.
How we got here: The 34-year-old Harden vowed he would never play for a franchise run by 76ers team president Daryl Morey,
and the disgruntled guard had yet to play for the team this season. Harden had picked up his $35.6 million
contract option in June with the belief the team would trade him. When a deal failed to immediately materialize,
“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.
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
Harden, who told the 76ers that the Clippers were his preferred team from the moment he issued his offseason trade demand, now joins a loaded roster intent on making a title push.