The Philadelphia 76ers ended trade talks on star guard James Harden and plan to bring him back for training camp to have him ready for the upcoming season, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
However, Harden still doesn't intend to play for the 76ers or participate in the team's training camp, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.
The 76ers had periodic conversations with Harden's desired destination, the Los Angeles Clippers, over the offseason, but a trade never materialized, Wojnarowski adds.
Philadelphia believes it has a championship-caliber roster with Harden and wants to find a way to make it work with the veteran guard, Wojnarowski reports.
Harden initially accepted his $35.6-million player option for the 2023-24 season in hopes of being traded. The veteran guard is unhappy over the lack of a long-term, maximum contract offer, sources told Wojnarowski.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in July that he wouldn't deal Harden unless the right return presented itself. However, Morey added that he was "attempting to honor" his request.
Philadelphia didn't make many big moves in the offseason since the trade request, adding Patrick Beverley and Mo Bamba and re-signing forward Paul Reed. The franchise lost depth along the wings, with Shake Milton, Georges Niang, and Jalen McDaniels going elsewhere.
Harden has played in 79 regular-season contests with Philadelphia, averaging 21 points, 10.6 assists, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. The Sixers acquired the 33-year-old from the Brooklyn Nets for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks in February 2022.
