The James Harden saga continues and we have all the latest information about the drama that’s been unfolding.
Harden finally returned to Philadelphia on Wednesday with his bags packed and ready for the team’s road trip to Milwaukee and Toronto, only to be told he wasn’t going, per Shams Charania.
He was MIA for ten days and was reported to be in Houston looking after his ill mother, via Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.
It wasn’t the first time he didn’t show up though, after he skipped media day and the first day of training camp.
“He’s been gone for 10 days, so we’re in ramp up phase again,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse told reporters following Wednesday’s practice at the team’s facility in New Jersey. “So, like we would normally do, he will stay and get on-court work with our staff and with our players from the [Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G-League team] and two-way guys and things like that and try to get him ramped up as soon as we can.”
Nurse explained that Harden understood the decision to leave him behind.
“He is fine,” Nurse said. “He understands he’s got to get ramped up, and like I said, he’s been gone for 10 days so he understands it. He wants to get back to playing live, full-court basketball.”
The Sixers first home game is on Sunday against the Blazers, which will be the first opportunity Harden gets to take the court.
As for a potential trade to the Clippers, “at least for the foreseeable future” LA are “stepping back” from Harden trade talks, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
“The Clippers may revisit this at some point but they know they’re the only bidder for James Harden,” Wojnarowski said.”..If you’re the Clippers, why offer more when there’s fewer and fewer games that James Harden can play for you.”
The ESPN insider also explained that the Clippers are going to see how they fare with a healthy Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to start the season.
No doubt there will be more to come on this saga, so stay tuned.
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