Patrick Beverley: Sixers Welcoming James Harden ‘With Open Arms’

For better or for worse, James Harden is reportedly joining the 76ers for their training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.

And if you ask new Sixers guard Patrick Beverley, Harden’s arrival is undoubtedly for the better.

“Happy,” Beverley told reporters when asked about Harden’s return, via Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Like I’ve said and will continue to say, it’s hard to replace or get anything similar as a James Harden so hell yeah. We’re catching vibe here, we’re welcoming him with open arms.

“Obviously things that have to deal with players and upper office is out of our hands, but as far as teammates hell yeah we can’t wait to see him.”

Harden skipped media day after requesting a trade earlier this summer. He also called team president Daryl Morey “a liar” during a promotional event in China. He also said he wouldn’t play for a Morey-led roster ever again.

Granted, attending training camp and actually playing games are two different things, but Harden has decided to avoid a fine that could come his way courtesy of the new collective-bargaining agreement.

As relayed by Pompey: 

“According to the CBA, any player who ‘withholds playing services for more than 30 days after the start of the last season covered by his contract’ could be deemed to have violated his contract and forbidden from entering free agency and signing with another team until the team he last played for ‘expressly agrees otherwise.'”

In other words, a Harden holdout could hit him hard in the pocketbook. Whether he’s changed his stance from a basketball standpoint remains to be seen.

Beverley, 35, signed with the Sixers in July after spending last season with the Lakers and Bulls.