James Harden: NBA opens investigation into feud with Philadelphia 76ers after basketball player vowed never to play for ‘liar’ Daryl Morey again
- Harden unleashed an astonishing attack on Morey this week while in China
- NBA officials are determining if he predicts a 2023/24 postponement
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The NBA has launched an investigation into James Harden’s ugly feud with the Philadelphia 76ers after his astonishing verbal assault on President Daryl Morey this week.
Harden assaulted Morey at a basketball camp in China and accused the 76ers chief of dishonesty after talks about his desired move to the LA Clippers ended.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be part of any organization he is part of,” he said.
“Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be part of any organization that he is a part of.”
Harden, a 10-time NBA All Star, set his sights on a trade to the Clippers after just 18 months in Philadelphia, but talks came to an end when the Sixers failed to strike a deal.
The NBA has launched an investigation into James Harden’s ugly feud with the Philadelphia 76ers
Harden unleashed a sensational attack (right) on 76ers president Daryl Morey (left) last week, labeling him a “liar” after ending trade talks with the Clippers
According to ESPNNBA officials are looking into the 33-year-old’s feud with Morey to understand whether he’s predicting a 2023-2024 postponement in violation of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
They are also trying to understand if he was in fact referring to past contract talks that could amount to circumventing the salary cap.
However, Harden is believed to have privately clarified that his scathing assessment of Morey was merely a response to him ending trade talks with the Clippers expecting him to start the season with Philadelphia.
If that were communicated to the NBA, neither Harden nor the Sixers would be violating league guidelines.
Harden is expected to report to the Sixers’ training camp in September after being told no suitable trade with the Clippers had been found, despite the point guard claiming his relationship with the franchise has broken down irretrievably this week .
When asked by Jason Bristol of KHOU 11 when it’s too late to save his 76ers career, he simply said, “I think so.”
Harden, who is currently in Houston for another one of his JH-Town charity weekend events, also said beforehand, “I’ve been patient all summer. For me, I just focus on what I can control, which is training (and) staying in shape and preparing for a good season.”
The 33-year-old was sent to Philadelphia in 2022 in exchange for Ben Simmons, who was sent to Brooklyn after becoming embroiled in his own trade standoff with the Sixers.
Harden this week suggested it’s too late to mend his relationship with Morey and the Sixers
In June, he picked up his $35.6 million contract option for next season with the 76ers, despite the fact that he could have decided to try for free. The Sixers also had the right to offer him a four-year, $210 million deal – $8 million more than any other team.
Last year, the franchise handed him a two-year, $68.6 million deal that included a player option that allowed him to sign two additional veteran free-duty contributors.
A subsequent NBA investigation found that the Sixers held premature talks with PJ Tucker and Danuel House, and were eventually stripped of two future second-round picks.
The league found no evidence that Philadelphia discussed or agreed on a future deal with Harden based on its agreement on a one-plus-one contract. It also continues to deny that it ever made or reneged on any illegal future deal with him.