James Harden’s ongoing dispute with the Philadelphia 76ers has caught the attention of the NBA and prompted action from the league office. Reports suggest that the NBA is conducting an investigation into the situation following Harden’s public criticism of 76ers president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, whom he referred to as a “liar.” The league is reportedly looking into whether Harden’s warning of a potential holdout violates the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement or if it suggests an attempt to facilitate illegal salary cap circumvention on behalf of the 76ers.
Harden’s comments came during a press event in China for Adidas basketball, where he expressed his frustration after the 76ers allegedly halted trade discussions involving the star player. This incident occurred shortly after Harden had previously requested a trade away from Philadelphia in June. Although privately, Harden has communicated that his remarks stemmed from the team’s decision to hold onto him and the expectation that he would be starting the season with the 76ers.
The core issue appears to be Harden’s disappointment with the 76ers’ failure to offer him a long-term maximum contract, as reported by ESPN. Consequently, Harden has expressed his desire to be traded, with the Los Angeles Clippers being at the top of his preferred destinations. Last season, Harden took a significant pay cut of $15 million and declined his $47.4 million player option, instead opting for a deal that paid him $33 million. He anticipated that this sacrifice would be rewarded this offseason, but that has not materialized thus far.
It is worth noting that Harden and Morey have a history together from their time with the Houston Rockets, where they spent eight seasons collaborating. Morey, as the Rockets general manager, orchestrated the trade that brought Harden to Houston from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.
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