76ers trade James Harden, PJ Tucker to LA Clippers just 3 games into 2023 season: reports
PHILADELPHIA - James Harden is headed from East to West coast as the 76ers trade the disgruntled guard to the LA Clippers, according to reports.
The announcement come just days after Harden was seen on the Sixers bench as they claimed a 126-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
Harden isn't the only player headed cross country, according to reports that say PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev are also about to don a Clippers jersey.
In return, the Sixers will add Clippers Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington and KJ Martin to the roster.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey drop double-doubles as Harden watches the 76ers beat winless Portland
Joel Embiid had 35 points and 15 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey added 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 126-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Philadelphia team will also receive a 2028 unprotected first-round draft pick, two second-round picks and a 2029 pick swap from the Clippers, as well as another first-round pick from a third team in the future.
Harden had practiced on and off with the Sixers, but had yet to play a single minute this season before his trade demands were met just days before Game 4.
While the star player initially brought lots of excitement to Philadelphia, some fans believe it's time for him to go.
"He needed to go," one fan said. "You don't want that cancer in your locker room."
The 34-year-old 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 that failed to happen, Harden's relationship with the 76ers ultimately fell apart.
Harden led the NBA in assists last season with 10.7 per game but it was his wildly fluctuating offense that frustrated the Sixers and helped doom them in the Eastern Conference second-round loss to Boston.
Harden, acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from Brooklyn, is now off to his fifth team.
Harden was a late arrival to training camp and continued to practice with the 76ers until he was told to stay home for the team's first two road games in the wake of the trade demand. The lone time he spoke at practice, Harden said that his fractured relationship with Morey could not be repaired — comparing it to a broken marriage. Coach Nick Nurse had said Harden was scheduled to practice with the 76ers on Tuesday.
Instead, Harden is on his way to California.
Disgruntled Harden no-show at 76ers' media day, training camp status unclear after trade demand
James Harden skipped the Philadelphia 76ers’ media day and his status for training camp this week in Colorado is unclear because the franchise has yet to meet the disgruntled guard’s demand for a trade.
Harden, who told the 76ers the Clippers were his preferred team, now joins a loaded roster intent on making an NBA championship push. He joins Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook in a veteran lineup that was set to play Tuesday night against Orlando.
The 76ers are off until Thursday's home game against Toronto.
Harden and the 76ers are no strangers to turmoil. Harden’s wildly successful tenure in Houston -- where he first teamed with Morey, then the general manager -- included three scoring titles and the 2018 NBA MVP award. But his relationship with Houston eventually soured and he forced his way to Brooklyn in 2021. He joined Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and formed a Big 3 that was never very big. The trio was socked by injuries and other controversies and played only 18 games together before Harden wanted out.
So it was off to Philly at the 2022 trade deadline, where he was reunited with Morey and seemed comfortable in his role as a playmaker while the offense ran through Embiid. Harden even declined in June 2022 his $47.4 million option, saying he wanted to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and compete for a championship. He signed a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million last season with a $35.6 million player option for this season.
Harden appeared determined to sever ties with the Sixers in August after he called Morey a liar at a promotional event in China.
"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said at the event. "Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.