Daryl Morey made brave Paul George demand in James Harden trade talks

19 October 2023 , 14:53

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Daryl Morey has hit out at the Clippers over their James Harden trade approach (Image: Getty)

Philadelphia 76ers chief Daryl Morey doesn't believe the Los Angeles Clippers are serious about trade talks for one-time NBA MVP, James Harden.

The 34-year-old has been pushing for a trade away from Philadelphia in the offseason, even going as far as to call Morey a "liar". Nonetheless, on the eve of the 2023/24 NBA season, the 76ers and Morey are trying to fulfil the player's trade request while also looking after the franchise's best interests.

However, according to The Athletic, the Clippers' unwillingness to include Terance Mann in the deal has seen Morey brand their NBA rivals as "unserious" and even joked that Paul George should be involved. An unprotected first-round pick, first-round pick swap, players to match the salaries, and Mann would be enough for the 76ers.

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Harden was absent from practice Wednesday and spent time in Houston. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Harden's absence on the eve of the new season "is only the beginning of what he plans to do here". Coach Nick Nurse says he has no explanation as to why Harden was missing.

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"If he's here, we go; if he's not here, we go," Nurse told reporters Wednesday. "I'm still going on what he said the last time I talked him, that he was going to ramp up and get ready to play Friday. We'll see how it goes." Harden could play on Friday in Philadelphia's final preseason game, though. They will be taking on the Atlanta Hawks before their Oct. 27 date with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Daryl Morey joked that the Clippers should include Paul George in the Harden trade (Getty)

"I'll ramp it up and try to play the last one just to get myself in game situations and get used to the physicality of defenders bumping you and whatnot," Harden said earlier this month. "The speed, the tempo, all that good stuff. So I think we've got a good plan in place."

One thing is for certain: Harden's relationship with the 76ers' front office is beyond repair. "This is not even about this situation -- this is in life," he said. "When you lose trust in someone, it's like a marriage ... you lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It's pretty simple." Harden continued: "Me and the front office had a very, very good relationship for a decade. There was constant communication, you know what I mean? There was no communication once we lost [to Boston in the playoffs]."

Joshua Mbu