“Wasn’t My Choice”: Collateral Damage of James Harden Fiasco Reflects on Shocking 76ers Trade Before Confronting Clippers

After losing to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers are hoping to bounce back against their co-tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sunday afternoon matinee will mark James Harden’s first game against his former club after he forced his way out earlier this season. After an offseason-long saga of Harden throwing tantrums to be moved, he was traded in the first week of the regular season to the Clippers. In return, the Sixers received a slew of draft picks and key players, including Nicolas Batum, KJ Martin, Robert Covington, and Marcus Morris Sr.

It was just any other morning for Batum, who woke up to take his kids to school and attend the Clippers’ morning shootaround until his wife dealt him the heartbreaking news. And while Batum has enjoyed a successful season with the Sixers, that hasn’t softened the blow yet. Before returning to the building that he had called home for the last four years, Batum reflected on his unexpected trade. “It wasn’t my choice! I didn’t ask to be here, but it’s good…when you go to another team, you have to be a pro. I’m gonna do my job and it’s a good situation. I got traded to a good team and we’ve had some up-and-down injuries, but it’s a good situation,” said the 35-year-old.

Batum’s versatility has been instrumental in the Sixers’ playoff push, especially with reigning MVP Joel Embiid out recovering from knee surgery. In Embiid’s absence, Batum has embraced various roles, from starting and coming off the bench to even playing as a small-ball center. He’s shown his adaptability by also serving as the inbounder at times. Despite Batum’s contributions, Philadelphia has struggled without their star big man, posting a 9-15 record during his recent absence.

Update on Joel Embiid’s return

Embiid was having a phenomenal season, dominating the MVP rankings with his 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks per contest in 34 games. However, his momentum was halted when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga accidentally landed on his left leg during a scramble for a loose ball in the team’s 119-107 victory on Jan. 30. Since Embiid’s injury, the 76ers have struggled, particularly in the paint. Before the injury, Philadelphia ranked sixth in the league in shots attempted in the restricted area per game, but they have since dropped to 15th, relying more on long-range shots.

However, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, the “hope” is that Embiid will be back in 2-3 weeks.  This comes on the heels of the big man returning to practice with the team. If he returns in two weeks, Embiid could be back in action against the Miami Heat on April 2. However, if it takes three weeks, his comeback might be delayed until the 76ers’ penultimate regular season game on April 12.

Read More: James Harden Admits Clippers Run “Didn’t Start Off Well”, Hits Back at Critics: “Nowhere to Be Found”