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Perk: James Harden has no leverage against the 76ers
Kendrick Perkins explained that James Harden is with the 76ers and encouraged him to show up for camp.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that it had been fined 76ers star James Harden $100,000 after his recent comments that in part referred to franchise president Daryl Morey as a “liar.”
The league last week launched a query to the circumstances surrounding Harden’s comments on August 14 and 17, which the NBA said “will not perform the services required under his player contract unless traded to another team.”
The investigation found that the comments stemmed from Harden’s belief that the team would not accommodate his trade request, the NBA said in a statement. The interview with Harden is part of the investigation.
Harden’s comments that he would never be a part of an organization that Morey was attached to were the biggest part of the fine, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It deals with league rules regarding public trading needs.
In a publicity stop for his line of Adidas basketball shoes August 14 in China, Harden calls Morey a “liar” and said that “he will never be part of an organization that he is a part of.”
On August 17, Harden answered a KHOU 11 television reporter of Houston, “I think so,” when asked if his relationship with the Sixers “hasn’t improved.”
Harden said: “I’ve been patient all summer. For me, it’s just focusing on what I can control and getting ready for this season.”
Philadelphia informed Harden that it did not find a suitable trade for his preferred destination LA Clippers and that it expects him to report to the team’s training camp in September — a source said Harden plans to do so. Despite public speculation, Harden has not made allegations of a previous handshake agreement with the Sixers on a future contract.
Harden, who will turn 34 this month, exercised his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season in June with the expectation that Morey would work with him to seek a trade with the Clippers, sources said. The Sixers and Clippers have engaged in several conversations but have never gained traction on a deal, sources said.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.