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USA Today via Reuters
May 1, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) in the second half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports | Courtesy: Reuters
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-05-02T023158Z_215713351_MT1USATODAY20577006_RTRMADP_3_NBA-PLAYOFFS-PHILADELPHIA-76ERS-AT-BOSTON-CELTICS.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
May 1, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) in the second half during game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports | Courtesy: Reuters
The rift between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers is long known. His recent controversial remarks directed at Daryl Morey have further muddled the situation. Harden’s calculated approach to publicly escalate tensions opens doors for a messy aftermath. Despite this, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to part ways with Harden if they intend to. Removing Harden from the squad will necessitate a complete halt on their plans. Furthermore, it will leave a void for an on-court orchestrator to complement Joel Embiid effectively.
Philly now finds itself in an even more challenging predicament; James’ actions have sullied the team’s reputation and his trade value in the NBA market. As a result, teams might be more hesitant to recruit the Beard as the face of their organization now. However, a good spark of good news emerged on the two-time Sports Emmy nominated Rich Eisen Show.
Antics will not work for James Harden this time
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Philly has intricately woven Harden into their gameplay. He stands as a pivotal component of the team’s offensive strategies. Additionally, with Joel Embiid’s MVP last year, the upcoming season is their perfect opportunity to claim the title.
In a recent episode, Rich Eisen and his esteemed panel delved into the repercussions of Harden’s $100k fine due to his comments. The conversation organically transitioned to James’ history of sitting out games as a form of protest. One of the hosts highlighted how Harden’s approach won’t be feasible this year.“If a player in the final year of their contract withholds services for more than 30 days, then they will be in violation of their contract. They can be blocked from becoming a free agent until the team they last played for expressly agrees otherwise,” he pointed out, referencing the CBA guidelines. Considering both the CBA regulations and Harden’s contractual ties with the 76ers, Chris Brockman underlined, “He’s gonna show up for training camp.”
In light of Harden’s unwavering spirit for leaving the Sixers, Eisen indicated that Harden can fake an injury to sit out of games.
If Harden chooses to sit out of games, he will be stuck with the Sixers for longer than expected. Furthermore, given his feud with their President, his professional trajectory could face significant challenges. The Sixers have reportedly ended their trade search regarding Harden. This means if James wants an early exit, he must show up for the training camp. At the very least, he will have to rep the Sixers.
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Tyrese Maxey opens up uncertain clouds if Harden exits
Amidst Harden’s trade request and the ongoing turmoil, Tyrese Maxey recently shared a personal take. On his podcast, he shared how he is being inquired if James’ absence will write off their season as a “wash.” In a candid response, Maxey emphasized otherwise. He quickly highlighted the team’s abundant talent apart from Harden. Furthermore, he displayed sheer confidence in the reigning NBA MVP by their side.
“I think with the position that the Sixers are in, we can’t ever see a season as a wash. We have talent. We have the reigning MVP on our team,” he said.
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This response undoubtedly resonates with Philadelphia 76ers fans. However, they wished it was James Harden who had the same mentality as the 22-year-old Tyrese. Maxey’s unwavering focus on the team’s genuine objectives is genuinely heartening.