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Category: 76ers

Latest Philadelphia 76ers Rumors and News.

  • BREAKING: Sixers Trading James Harden to Clippers

    BREAKING: Sixers Trading James Harden to Clippers

    Finally, it is about to happen.Terance Mann defends James Harden

    The 76ers are granting James Harden his wish and trading him to the Clippers, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

    Philadelphia will receive Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and K.J. Martin, as well as multiple draft picks and a pick swap as part of the deal.

    In exchange, Los Angeles will get Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev, Woj added.

    As for the picks, the Sixers are receiving a 2028 unprotected first-rounder, two second-rounders and the pick swap, per Wojnarowski. “The Clippers are also routing the 76ers an additional future first-round pick from a third team,” he wrote.

    Harden demanded a trade back in June, right after picking up a player option for $35.6 million. He specifically requested that he be sent to the Clippers.

    Harden, 34, has been at odds with the organization — or more specifically, head of basketball operations Daryl Morey — all summer and into the season. 

    He publicly called Morey a “liar” during a promotional event in China, later indicating his once tight bond with Morey was now beyond repair.

    Harden then avoided media day before joining the rest of the team at training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. But just when things seemed as if they were calming down, Harden skipped 10 days of practice, reportedly because of his frustration over the Sixers being unable to reach a deal.

    Recently, the Clippers were said to have paused trade talks to focus on their own roster. Harden then decided to return to the Sixers, only to be be prohibited from boarding the team flight for the first two road games.

    He rejoined the Sixers for the home-opener, sitting on the bench in street clothes. He had planned to rejoin the rest of the squad for practice on Tuesday, per reports.

    Now, though, it appears the drama has reached an end.

  • James Harden Set to Return to Sixers Practice

    James Harden Set to Return to Sixers Practice

    It’s been a while, but it sounds as if James Harden will return to practice with the 76ers on Tuesday, as relayed by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.James Harden

    Harden, 34, skipped 10 days and then was prohibited from boarding the team flight for the first two road games to open the season. He returned to the bench for the 76ers’ hope-opener, a blowout win over the Trail Blazers.

    “He had some good conditioning days,” coach Nick Nurse told reporters. “He’s still in the ramp-up process, looking to have him back in practice on Tuesday. That’s about where we are with that.”

    Harden demanded a trade to the Clippers back in June, but the sides reportedly never came close to a deal. The Clippers have since paused trade talks, per reports.

    So for now, Harden remains a Sixer and it appears he may be accepting that reality. Where this goes from here, though, is anyone’s guess.

    “The signs are positive condition-wise and all those things,” Nurse said. “We just need to get him in some live action. Hopefully, we can do that Tuesday.”

  • Joel Embiid: Not Awkward Having James Harden Watch Sixers’ Win From Bench

    Joel Embiid: Not Awkward Having James Harden Watch Sixers’ Win From Bench

    It was the type of home-opener the 76ers surely dreamed about: Joel Embiid dominating and James Harden … well, at least in the building.Joel Embiid drives against Deandre Ayton

    The verdict? A 126-98 hammer job of the poor Trail Blazers, who are learning that life without Damian Lillard could be every bit as difficult as predicted (and maybe more).

    Anyway, Embiid is the reigning league MVP and showed why on this night, with an utterly masterful showing. In the end, he had erupted for 35 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and a staggering six blocked shots. 

    While Embiid dominated, Harden made his first appearance with the rest of the team during an actual game. He didn’t play, but he was there.

    Aside from a small segment in the pregame hype video, the Sixers didn’t acknowledge their star guard. Embiid didn’t really, either, but suggested it wasn’t awkward having Harden in the gym.

    “When I’m playing, I’m always focused on the game,” Embiid told reporters.

    It’s still hard to tell if or when Harden might actually play for the Sixers. He demanded a trade in June, didn’t receive one, and then skipped 10 days of practice. Then the Sixers refused to let him on the team plane for the opening two-game trip.

    Now, the Clippers have paused trade talks to boot — and Los Angeles is the only team the Philadelphia was speaking with. So the Sixers-Harden drama could linger for quite some time.

    But clearly, it’s no bother to Embiid, or rising guard Tyrese Maxey, who gave another impressive showing with 26 points and 10 boards.

    As it stands, new coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers have won two of the first three, with the lone loss coming at Milwaukee by a point.

  • Nick Nurse Receives All Cheers in Toronto Return as Sixers Down Raptors

    Nick Nurse Receives All Cheers in Toronto Return as Sixers Down Raptors

    In Toronto, there are plenty of reasons to like Nick Nurse, the former Raptors coach now in his first year with the 76ers.Nick Nurse talks with Tobias Hartis and Tyrese Maxey

    And Nurse did indeed get plenty of love from the fans when introduced at Scotiabank Arena. Then Nurse and the Sixers won the game, 114-107, on Saturday night. 

    It was just Philadelphia’s second game of the season, both on the road, and Nurse has the team looking good. (The Sixers lost their opener, barely, at Milwaukee.)

    All of this despite the ongoing James Harden drama, which sure doesn’t appear as if it will end anytime soon. The Clippers have halted trade talks, Harden still wants to be traded — at last check, anyway — and the Sixers didn’t allow him on the team plane for the trip.

    But Nurse has the men in uniform playing hard, playing smart and believing. That’s something the fans in Toronto can surely appreciate. After all, it was Nurse who was on the sidelines for the franchise’s lone championship back in 2019.

  • NBA Notes: Sixers, James Harden, Pacers, Rick Carlisle, Wolves

    NBA Notes: Sixers, James Harden, Pacers, Rick Carlisle, Wolves

    76ers

    • The Sixers have officially ruled out James Harden for Saturday’s road game against the Raptors, per the league’s official injury report. Harden did not make the trip, of course, after reportedly being kept off the team flight.
    • In case you missed it, the Sixers are confident they’ll still be pretty good despite the ongoing Harden drama. You can read that full story here.

    Pacers

    Center Myles Turner suggested he’s not surprised that coach Rick Carlisle received a contract extension.

    “I think Rick knows how to command a room,” Turner said, via Tony East of SI.com. “I think it’s just a testament to who he is as a man and who he is as a coach. I think he does a good job of grabbing the attention and ears of his players, and he demands respect,” he added. Turner thinks that his head coach has been vital in setting a culture. “To have somebody who is able to command that respect day in and day out is huge.”

    While admittedly happy with the extension, Carlisle added he’s focused on the task at hand.

    “This is not really a time to celebrate. It’s a time to really recognize the responsibility,” he said.

    Timberwolves

    The Timberwolves have exercised the third-year team option on guard/forward Wendell Moore Jr., the team announced in a press release.

    Moore, 22, was selected out of Duke with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He appeared in 29 games last season as a rookie.

  • James Harden-Less Sixers Showing Confidence After Close Opening Loss

    James Harden-Less Sixers Showing Confidence After Close Opening Loss

    While the James Harden saga continues to drag on, the 76ers have some basketball games to play.Joel Embiid drives to the basket vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo

    It all started Thursday night, when they dropped a hard-fought decision to Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on the road, 118-117.

    That’s actually not so bad, considering everything. Reigning league MVP Joel Embiid was still very good. So were Tyrese Maxey (31 points) and Tobias Harris. And De’Anthony Melton did a solid job filling in for Harden.

    It also marked the debut of coach Nick Nurse with the Sixers after five years with the Raptors. (Nurse and Philadelphia visit Toronto on Saturday.)

    “Well, I thought we gave a great effort, right?” Nurse said, via Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire. “We were playing extremely hard. Thought we took a huge run kind of Haymaker from them in the first half on the road and we were able to get back together and get going a little bit. We did some really good things.”

    One thing that seems certain — the Harden situation isn’t likely to calm down anytime soon. He was kept off the team flight to Milwaukee and there’s no telling if the Sixers will play him at all, given everything that’s transpired since his trade demand in June. And the one team that has an interest, the Clippers, has reportedly halted trade talks for the time being.

    But hey, it looks like the Sixers just might be OK in spite of it all.

    “First game of the season, I think we’re gonna be fine.,” Embiid said. “I like a lot of the stuff that we were doing. We got some bad calls our way towards the end. … We need to be better. We’re gonna be better.”

  • NBA Investigating James Harden Unavailability for Sixers Opener

    NBA Investigating James Harden Unavailability for Sixers Opener

    This is what’s known as a true blue basketball saga. And for the 76ers, the season hadn’t even started.James Harden

    It actually all began back in June, when star guard James Harden picked up the option on his contract, then immediately demanded a trade. That much you likely know by now. And probably also that Harden only wants a trade to the Clippers.

    Harden, 34, skipped media day, joined the team for training camp, then randomly left practice and went away for 10 days. He returned, only to be refused entry onto the team flight for the opener at Milwaukee.

    Now, the NBA has decided to look into it — as Harden isn’t injured, but again, not suiting up, either.

    “We’re looking into the facts around James Harden’s availability (Thursday night) to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” said NBA spokesman Mike Bass, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

    As Wojnarowski also noted, because the Sixers-Bucks game is being nationally televised, Philadelphia must provide a valid reason why Harden isn’t playing, given that he’s a recent All-Star. All are part of the league’s new player participation rules.

    That said, ESPN’s Bobby Marks added that players can be excused for injury, personal or rare/unusual circumstances. If nothing else, it’s safe to say the Harden drama fits at least the latter.

  • Sixers Keep James Harden From Boarding Team Flight to Milwaukee

    Sixers Keep James Harden From Boarding Team Flight to Milwaukee

    The 76ers were serious when they requested that James Harden not travel with the team for its first two road games, beginning Thursday against the Bucks.James Harden

    As detailed by Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT, the Sixers told Harden it would be “beneficial” if he stayed back in Philadelphia (or Camden, N.J.) at the practice facility to get in some work while the Sixers opened the season. That came after Harden made a surprise appearance at practice Wednesday after 10 days away from the team.

    Harden seemed to take the Sixers’ practice suggestion as just that — a suggestion, and not necessarily a demand, Haynes reported. But after Harden made the trip to the airport to travel with the team, he was stopped by a security guard and refused entry onto the plane, per Haynes.

    Harden reportedly left the airport frustrated, and long story short, the whole situation remains a mess.

    Another thing that Haynes reported remains is Harden’s trade request, specifically to the Clippers. But as we relayed here, the Clippers have paused trade talks as they too enter the early part of the season. Unlike Philly, there are no distractions with the Clippers, and for now, it appears they are aiming to keep it that way.

    Anyway, new Sixers coach Nick Nurse suggested that his team is focused on nothing but the season and games at hand.

    “My concerns right now are really going to be focused on the game [Thursday] night,” Nurse said, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “We put a lot into this, and we’re in a great space I think mentally and preparation-wise, all that stuff. That’s what I’ll continue to do.”

     
  • Clippers Pausing James Harden Trade Talks With Sixers

    Clippers Pausing James Harden Trade Talks With Sixers

    Star guard James Harden remains a member of the 76ers (sort of), and that is the way it will stay, it seems, for the time being.Terance Mann defends James Harden

    Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Clippers have decided to “pause” the trade talks centered on Harden. At last check, the Clippers are the only team engaged with the Sixers on a potential Harden trade.

    Given that he’s on an expiring contract, there isn’t much interest from the rest of the league. That’s especially the case since Harden has approached his trade demand as a Clippers-or-bust scenario.

    “I’m told that with the start of the season now, at least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden — they are essentially pausing them,” Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown.

    “They have talked with Philadelphia for months about a trade. They’ve made their best offer for Harden, and they are now gonna start their season and see what this team looks like with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, a healthy Paul George.

    “Now, the Clippers may revisit this at some point. But they know they’re the only bidder for James Harden. They’re the only team that’s made a serious offer. They don’t want to bid against themselves. … I think the Sixers have to wonder, ‘Have we already gotten the best offer we’re gonna get for James Harden?’ Especially as the games start to peel off the calendar. And if you’re the Clippers, why offer more when there are fewer and fewer games that James Harden can play for you.”

    Harden, 34, has finally reported back to Philadelphia after 10 days away, but as we relayed here, he won’t be traveling with the team for its first two road games.

  • Shams: Sixers’ James Harden Not Likely to Play ‘Anytime Soon’

    Shams: Sixers’ James Harden Not Likely to Play ‘Anytime Soon’

    It’s true that James Harden has return to the 76ers after 10 days away. Shams Charania of The Athletic and FanDuel TV also reported that Harden has been asked to stay back and not join the team on its two-game trip to start the season, at Milwaukee and Toronto.James Harden drives to the basket as Jayson Tatum trails

    So when will we see Harden actually suit up and play for the Sixers? Yeah, it’s hard to tell. But it could be a ways away, Charania quickly suggested on FanDuel’s Run It Back.

    ‘He’s been out for the last 10 days, he hasn’t been part of any team activities,” Charania said of Harden on the set with Michelle Beadle, Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons. “He has only done one five-on-five the entire last month of training camp (and) has not played in the preseason.

    “So, I don’t expect to see James Harden on the floor anytime soon.”

    Harden, 34, requested a trade to the Clippers after picking up his option in June. While the sides have spoken, they reportedly are not close to a trade — keeping Harden and the Sixers in limbo as the regular season begins.

  • East Notes: Sixers, James Harden, Celtics, Al Horford, Cavs

    East Notes: Sixers, James Harden, Celtics, Al Horford, Cavs

    76ers

    • Guard James Harden intended to travel with the Sixers to their games in Milwaukee and Toronto, but the Sixers though he might serve as a distraction, per Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
    • So, as we relayed here, Harden will stay back in Philadelphia, working out at the practice facility in Camden, N.J., for at least the first two games.
    • Harden requested a trade to the Clippers and it appears the Clippers are now all in on acquiring him. But still, Los Angeles and Philadelphia are no closer to a deal.
    • Former Sixers coach Doc Rivers said that not making the All-Star team last season really bothered Harden, and that may be where the issues with the Sixers actually began.
    • Harden was not among the players putting up shots after Wednesday’s practice, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

    Celtics

    Cavaliers

    • Point guard Darius Garland (hamstring) went through shootaround on Wednesday and “all signs point” to Garland playing vs. the Nets, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Garland entered the opener listed as questionable.
    • I have plenty more on the Cavs and what to expect for the season (or at least what I think) in my opening day dribbles. You can check them out here.
  • James Harden Returns; Sixers Ask Him Not to Join Team on Opening Trip

    James Harden Returns; Sixers Ask Him Not to Join Team on Opening Trip

    After 10 days away, James Harden has returned to the 76ers. How everyone else feels about Harden’s unexcused absence is anyone’s guess.James Harden

    We do know the front office and coaching staff isn’t real pleased. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Harden arrived in Philadelphia for practice with his “bags packed,” for the opening trip at Milwaukee and Toronto.

    But the Sixers asked Harden not to travel with the team, Charania added.

    Harden, 34, demanded a trade after picking up the $35.6 million option contract. He is seeking one only to the Clippers — who are believed to have a desire for such a deal themselves.

    Team officials have referred to his time away as a personal reason. Now, they seem to be taking it personally.

    Given that his teammates showed up and practiced every day, they are probably OK with the idea of Harden not traveling with the rest of them. Or taking playing time away from them — at least not at the moment.

    Harden referred to president of basketball operations Daryl Morey as a “liar” during a summer event in China and indicated their relationship is beyond repair. Morey has said the Sixers will be pretty good with or without Harden.

    Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Harden will remain at the practice facility in Camden, N.J., while the rest of the team opens the season.

  • Sixers Officially Sign Ricky Council IV to Two-Way Deal

    Sixers Officially Sign Ricky Council IV to Two-Way Deal

    The 76ers have signed rookie guard Ricky Council IV to a two-way contract and released two-way forward Azuolas Tubelis, per the RealGM transactions log.Ricky Council IV

    Council, 22, is 6-foot-6 and went undrafted out of Arkansas last summer despite being projected by some outlets to go early in the second round. He quickly signed a two-way contract with the Sixers after the draft.

    He then appeared in five games at the NBA Summer League, averaging 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds. Philadelphia waived Council on Oct. 21, before deciding to bring him back on the same contract.

    Tubelis, 21, is 6-10 and went undrafted out of Arizona. He too joined the Sixers for Summer League and signed a two-way deal. While he’s no longer on that contract, he is highly likely headed to the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ affiliate in the G League.

  • Sixers to Waive Montrezl Harrell

    Sixers to Waive Montrezl Harrell

    The 76ers intend to waive veteran center/forward Montrezl Harrell, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.Montrezl Harrell

    Harrell declined his $2.76 million player option for the veteran’s minimum at the end of the season — but then signed a new deal in which he was set to get a small raise, at $2.89 million. His contract was reportedly fully guaranteed.

    Still, he suffered a knee injury and made him the odd man out in a “roster crunch,” Charania noted.

    Harrell, 29, is 6-foot-7 and averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 57 games last season, his first with the Sixers. He has also spent time with the Hornets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers and Rockets since entering the NBA in 2015.

    He appeared in just two playoff games with Philadelphia. Per Charania, the Sixers will continue to support Harrell’s rehab and recovery.