The drama surrounding James Harden and Philadelphia 76ers general manager Daryl Morey continues to become more intense with each passing day.
Well, if this continues and spills into the regular season, it will be interesting to see how it can impact reigning MVP Joel Embiid’s future with the 76ers.
After not being able to agree on a long-term contract extension this offseason, James Harden decided to opt into the final year of his contract with the 76ers before demanding a trade. Since then, the two sides have been in a stalemate as they struggle to find common ground.
Meanwhile, Harden has made his intentions clear, stating his desire to end up with the Los Angeles Clippers.
However, Morey has also made it clear that he will not be trading Harden unless he feels it improves the 76ers’ roster. The elephant in the room is what this could mean for Embiid’s future with the franchise, as he has already started to drop hints on social media.
Things have officially escalated and potentially reached a point of no return, as Harden publicly ousted Morey during his Adidas press tour in China. Harden called Morey a “liar,” and said that he “will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
James Harden on his China tour: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again. Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/oaqVjXkax6
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 14, 2023
Harden and Morey have been one of the NBA’s most successful partnerships over the past decade, dating back to their time together with the Houston Rockets. However, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski made it clear that the relationship between Morey and Harden has officially been “obliterated.”
While having to deal with the pending Harden situation, Morey and the 76ers front office must do everything in their power to keep Embiid happy and hope the other shoe doesn’t drop. Wojnarowski points out that time is of the essence for the 76ers and the outcome of the Harden-Morey faceoff could affect Embiid’s future with the team.
