- James Harden sought a trade to the Clippers during the NBA offseason
- But he remains a member of the Philadelphia 76ers as the new season began
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NBA legend Charles Barkley thinks there is no way back for James Harden in Philadelphia.
Following the guard’s 10-day excused absence from the team, the Sixers took on the Bucks without him in their season opener on Thursday night, losing 118-117.
And while Harden is officially “ramping up” his conditioning at the Sixers’ practice facility, as reported by Bleacher Report’s Chris HaynesBarkley sees no way out for the Sixers and the wantaway star.
“James Harden can’t come back to Philly, those fans won’t have it,” Barkley said on Thursday TNT. “He can’t treat the city of Philadelphia like this and they will “forgive and forget.” I said the same thing to Ben Simmons…you’re not going to take him back.
Barkley, who played for the Sixers for eight seasons, added: “When you play for the team you have an obligation to the fan base – he didn’t come into work for 10 days. You just can’t take time off because you’re unhappy about not getting traded.”
James Harden joined the Philadelphia 76ers after being traded from Brooklyn in 2022
Although Harden’s absence was excused due to a personal matter, his time away from the team comes after a down season of discontent — a season in which he requested a trade to the Clippers and called team president Daryl Morey a “liar.”
He returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday, ready to join the Sixers before their season opener, but was reportedly stopped by security and told not to travel with the team, Haynes said.
Harden agreed to pick up his $35.6 million option with Philadelphia with the expectation that the franchise would send him to another team, but that has yet to happen as Morey is apparently waiting for a suitable package.
And after the Sixers’ hard-fought loss to the Bucks, Morey Nice find a tweet suggesting he’s taking his time moving Harden elsewhere.
“The Sixers are looking really good,” wrote The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. And for that reason in particular, they must be patient in finding the right reward for James Harden. They can’t settle for when the right package can put them back in the title contest.”
Charles Barkley doesn’t think there is a way back for James Harden in Philadelphia
Harden, Joel Embiid and the 76ers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 second round
However, Barkley gave Morey his share of the blame for the Harden saga.
“Daryl Morey ruined this thing. James Harden has one year left on his contract. The idea of him getting a bunch of picks and players isn’t going to be a good deal.
“This is the third year in a row he’s been forced out,” he continued. “Do you think any team is going to give him a long-term contract? Not really.’
The Hall of Famer added that the team could have entered the Jrue Holiday sweepstakes if Morey had moved Harden a month earlier.
Holiday eventually ended up with the Celtics after the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard.
The Sixers will look to get their first win of the season against the Raptors on Saturday.