Once again, the 76ers are without one of their stars ahead of the NBA season.
On Monday, news broke that James Harden isn't with the 76ers at Media Day. The team is scheduled to leave for Colorado later in the day to hold training camp at Colorado State University. It's currently unclear if Harden will join them.
Harden has been with the 76ers for one-and-a-half seasons. He could've been a free agent this offseason, but he picked up the player option in his contract to return. So why is he not at Media Day?
Here's everything you need to know about the ongoing situation between Harden and the 76ers.
Why isn't James Harden at Media Day?
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on June 29 that Harden was picking up his player option for the 2023-24 season and "exploring trade scenarios" with the 76ers. The expectation was that he had played his last game for the franchise.
Less than two months later, the 76ers ended trade talks on Harden and planned to bring him back for training camp, per Wojnarowski. The Clippers were mentioned as a team Philly had conversations with, but nothing materialized.
The news of Harden not reporting to training camp doesn't come as a huge surprise. He said in August that 76ers president Daryl Morey is a "liar" and would "never be a part of an organization that he's a part of," comments he received a $100,000 fine from the NBA for.
According to Wojnarowski, Harden remains upset that the 76ers haven't traded him to the Clippers. Skipping Media Day is "expected to be a continued attempt to push for a trade."
Will Harden get what he wants? Time will tell.
Will the 76ers fine James Harden?
As detailed by ESPN's Bobby Marks, Harden is subject to fines if he doesn't show up to Media Day, misses practices, or sits out exhibition or regular season games.
Additionally, if Harden doesn't report within 30 days of the opening of training camp, he could be blocked from entering free agency next offseason.
Here's how it's explained in the CBA:
A player who withholds playing services called for by a Player Contract for more than thirty (30) days after the start of the last Season covered by his Player Contract shall be deemed not to have “complet[ed] his Player Contract by rendering the playing services called for thereunder.” Accordingly, such a player shall not be a Veteran Free Agent and shall not be entitled to negotiate or sign a Player Contract with any other professional basketball team unless and until the Team for which the player last played expressly agrees otherwise.
James Harden contract details
Harden will make $35.6 million in the 2023-24 season. He is currently set to be an unrestricted free agent following the season.
| Season | Salary |
| 2023-24 | $35,640,000 |
| 2024-25 | UFA |
The Sporting News' Steph Noh currently has Harden as the fifth-best player in next year's free agent class.
