The saga of James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers continues to unfold, as the disgruntled star has reportedly demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. However the Sixers will not part ways with their franchise player without getting a substantial return, and it seems they have a different idea of what that entails than the Clippers.
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According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is not interested in acquiring Clippers guard Terance Mann, who had a breakout performance in the playoffs last season. Instead, Morey is more focused on getting future first-round draft picks from the Clippers, which could help the Sixers rebuild or reload in case Joel Embiid also asks for a trade.
The problem is that the Clippers do not have many first-round picks to offer, as they have already traded away most of them to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the deal that brought Paul George to LA in 2019. The earliest first-rounder the Clippers can trade is their 2027 pick, which could be very valuable if their core of George, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook, and potentially Harden ages or declines.
The Sixers are reportedly hoping for a rebuild, as they believe that Embiid will eventually request a trade. Embiid has been vocal about his frustration with the Sixers' situation and has expressed his support for Harden, calling him a "great player" and a "great friend."
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However, the Clippers are reluctant to give up their future picks, as they are in win-now mode and want to contend for a championship. The stalemate between the Sixers and the Clippers could drag on for a while, as neither side seems willing to budge on their demands. Harden, meanwhile, is stuck in limbo, as he waits for his wish to be granted.
