NBA rumors: Harden trade update, Knicks crazy MVP hopes, Blazers bluffing

NBA Rumors: James Harden reiterates trade request to 76ers

With the free agent market in stasis, James Harden decided to opt into the final year of his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and request a trade. He named the Los Angeles Clippers as his preferred destination, but it doesn’t feel like the same one-team-only scenario as Damian Lillard.

In fact, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne appeared on Inside the NBA this week to clarify the current state of affairs around the former MVP.

"“I don’t think they’re close on anything. James Harden has spoken to Daryl Morey since the first trade request, and I think there was a cooling off period… They’ve spoken again, and [Harden] still reiterated he wants to be traded. Now, this isn’t a demand, it’s a request. I think the Sixers have said, okay we will try to trade you, but there is no hurry to do this. I think the Sixers understand here that they have the leverage. James has picked up his option, this is an opt-in… He’s going to be a free agent, so at some point he needs to play, whether that’s in Philadelphia or elsewhere.”"

A couple of key tidbits here. First, the cooling off period. Unlike Harden’s situation in Brooklyn, he has a longstanding relationship with multiple factions of Sixers management — most notably team president Daryl Morey, who worked hand-in-hand with Harden back in their shared time with Houston.

If ever there was a team president who could salvage a disgruntled Harden situation, it’s Morey. Shelburne also notes that Harden’s trade request is just that — a request, not a demand. He only has one year left until free agency and it’s understood that Harden will have to play eventually to earn his next contract. So, the Sixers might have the inside track to keeping James around if that’s the desired result.

The Sixers will probably still explore the Harden trade market. The risk of keeping a disgruntled star around in the final year of his contract is still significant. The Sixers don’t want to lose Harden for nothing. But, it’s also hard to imagine the Sixers getting a comparable player back in return. That, combined with Morey’s well-documented adoration for Harden, makes the idea of Philadelphia running it back extremely plausible. Bridges are mended all the time in the NBA. Maybe the Sixers still believe the Harden relationship can be salvaged beyond next season.