OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: AUGUST 2023

[KingSpeed]

It's possible... but as a free agent you fully control you own destiny, so he decided the sure money was worth putting his faith in Morey's hands.

If this were Dame saying it about Cronin, I would put a little more weight to it. Harden has made a mess of leaving a franchise before, so he has less credibility with me.

Clippers don’t have cap room to sign him. I think Harden opted in so he could be traded there.

 

[Tince]

Yeah but there’s more at play here. Harden took less money when he signed his extension a year ago so they could sign other players. I’m guessing he did that with the assurances that he would get a full max contract this summer. Now here we are.

You're probably right. Just like he signed a contract with Houston and then came in with a fat suit when he didn't want to honor it.

I'm not saying Morey is right (if he lied), but Harden probably isn't the one to be throwing stones at people for being unprofessional.

 

[Tince]

Clippers don’t have cap room to sign him. I think Harden opted in so he could be traded there.

Life is about choices. Do you want the money or do you want to play in your #1 location? Not all players can get the best of both worlds.

 

[KingSpeed]

Life is about choices. Do you want the money or do you want to play in your #1 location? Not all players can get the best of both worlds.

But the only way he could play in his #1 location was by opting in to get traded. It wasn’t about money. If it was, he would’ve opted out and signed with the highest bidder.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Yeah but there’s more at play here. Harden took less money when he signed his extension a year ago so they could sign other players. I’m guessing he did that with the assurances that he would get a full max contract this summer. Now here we are.

Did he get a no trade clause? He could have certainly set up his contract in a way that would have allowed him to opt out, correct?

Maybe sign a one year deal? Or a 3 year deal with the final 2 years being a player option or something...

 

[Phatguysrule]

But the only way he could play in his #1 location was by opting in to get traded. It wasn’t about money. If it was, he would’ve opted out and signed with the highest bidder.

Eh? When you sign long contacts that's what you get. Couldn't he have signed a shorter contract?

 

[HansenYang]

But the only way he could play in his #1 location was by opting in to get traded. It wasn’t about money. If it was, he would’ve opted out and signed with the highest bidder.

You are assuming there was more money out there than his current contract.

If he would have opted out, I don't think Harden finds a team willing to give him >$36M.
The teams with CAP space didn't want him.

So his options were:
1) Opt in and try and demand a trade
or
2) Opt out and sign for the MLE ($10M/yr)

IMO, the money means the most to Harden.

 

[HansenYang]

Did he get a no trade clause? He could have certainly set up his contract in a way that would have allowed him to opt out, correct?

Maybe sign a one year deal? Or a 3 year deal with the final 2 years being a player option or something...

Harden had the opportunity to be a FA this summer.
He had a player option that he exercised in June to return to the 76ers.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/james-harden-6312/

There just wasn't a market out there this summer willing to pay Harden >$30M/yr - so he exercised his player option to return.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Harden had the opportunity to be a FA this summer.
He had a player option that he exercised in June to return to the 76ers.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/james-harden-6312/

There just wasn't a market out there this summer willing to pay Harden >$30M/yr - so he exercised his player option to return.

Thanks. So it was about money.

 

[Tince]

But the only way he could play in his #1 location was by opting in to get traded. It wasn’t about money. If it was, he would’ve opted out and signed with the highest bidder.

He couldn't become a free agent and sign for the minimum to play for the Clippers?

 

[HansenYang]

He couldn't become a free agent and sign for the minimum to play for the Clippers?

Yes - he could have. Harden chose not not....

It's ALL about the money for Harden.

 

[tlongII]

Thanks. So it was about money.

It’s ALWAYS about money.

 

[Phatguysrule]

It’s ALWAYS about money.

Many guys have taken less money to be where they want. It's not overly common, but it definitely happens.

 

[tlongII]

Many guys have taken less money to be where they want. It's not overly common, but it definitely happens.

Who?

 

[andalusian]

To be fair to Harden, he did take less to allow Philly to sign some people and stay out of lessen some of the tax (PJ Tucker) and iirc, he could have signed a long contract with Brooklyn and demanded a trade after that, like some people (cough cough) do, and did not do that.

 

[Tince]

To be fair to Harden, he did take less to allow Philly to sign some people and stay out of lessen some of the tax (PJ Tucker) and iirc, he could have signed a long contract with Brooklyn and demanded a trade after that, like some people (cough cough) do, and did not do that.

That can't be the bar we're giving people credit for though.

 

[Whyachi]

Harden trying to get the GM fired. That's a lot harder to do then a Coach. If Embiid goes public with dirty laundry, dial 1-888-RICH-CHO

 

[riverman]

Who?

Tim Duncan took a pay cut to be able to bring Ginobli back

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Phatguysrule]

Who?

Just a few examples... Pretty sure Malone and GP did forever ago.. both Tim Duncan and Dirk did... Shaq did, so have DWade and Harden.

https://www.essentiallysports.com/n...ddress-all-of-my-familys-long-term-financial/

 

[andalusian]

That can't be the bar we're giving people credit for though.

Harden and Morrey screwing each other - is like watching a trash can setting another one on fire. So, I do agree it is an issue about money, but it is not just Harden here - he did try to work with Philly / Morrey with money issues.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Dame needs to do the same thing to this front office but he will not cause he has class but sometimes you need to stand up for yourself and wish Dame would be an a-hole at times sometimes he is too nice for his own good but it's also something I respect about him too -- lol

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Tince]

 

[BigGameDamian]

What an idiot.

 

[Strenuus]

Dame needs to do the same thing to this front office but he will not cause he has class but sometimes you need to stand up for yourself and wish Dame would be an a-hole at times sometimes he is too nice for his own good but it's also something I respect about him too -- lol

He already tanked his value with the Miami thing. That sure wouldn't help.

 

[HailBlazers]

Good luck with that.

 

[Cugel]

Like it or not Dame is now lumped in will all those guys demanding out of their contract. Wikipedia wont remember that Dame was a “nice guy”. Funny thing is Dame did let the game play him and not the other way around. Got caught up on all of the ring chasing etc. He is sort of stuck but he could have gone against the grain. Now he is just another Harden. Who knows, maybe Dame will ask out of his next gig too?. He should have fired that dumbass agent though as soon as that memo was sent.

 

[Dom McBlazer]

Does anyone here still want to trade for Harden? I do.....................













....NOT!

 

[Tince]

Does anyone here still want to trade for Harden? I do.....................













....NOT!

My stance is almost always the same when it comes to hypothetical trades for a specific player: Depends on what we're giving up and what we're getting in return. I'm sure there is a trade where I'd take back Harden; though it's difficult for me to come up with off the top of my head!