Source: Sixers ‘bracing for turbulence’ as James Harden skips practice, enters uncomfortable stage of holdout

James Harden was not present for Wednesday’s 76ers practice, perhaps a sign that the star guard is moving into the “uncomfortable” phase of this saga after requesting a trade during the summer.

A source told The Inquirer Wednesday morning, before news surfaced of Harden’s absence, that the Sixers were bracing for turbulence from Harden based on his past actions when he wanted to leave the Houston Rockets in 2021 and the Brooklyn Nets in 2022. Yet sources on both sides also continue to approach the situation day-by-day, as they have since training camp began earlier this month.

Harden also was not present for Monday’s shootaround ahead of their preseason game at the Brooklyn Nets, or at Barclays Center that night. He also left Saturday’s public scrimmage in Wilmington after partaking in warm-ups with teammates but participated in Sunday’s practice in Camden before the team departed for New York City. Harden has been in Houston since traveling there following Sunday’s practice, a league source told The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.

The Sixers — who boast reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid and have internal hopes of contending in a competitive top of the Eastern Conference — open their regular season next Thursday at the Milwaukee Bucks.

This shift in Harden’s approach comes after a relatively drama-free stretch after joining the Sixers in training camp in Fort Collins, Colo. He missed the team’s media day in Camden on Oct. 2 and the first practice at Colorado State University the following day. After that, though, he was engaged with teammates and staff, according to public comments and private observations by those around the group.

Harden said in his only media session so far this preseason that he hoped to suit up for Friday’s preseason finale at home against the Atlanta Hawks, and that his “plan is to play basketball” rather than sit out until this conundrum is resolved. Before Harden decided to skip Wednesday’s practice, a source told The Inquirer that the day’s team session would be key in determining Harden’s readiness to take the court.

”I’m still ramping up, trying to get myself in the best shape,” Harden said Friday. “I feel really, really good, but there’s another level I feel like I can get to and am going to get to. [I’ll] try to play the last [preseason game], just to get myself in game situations and get used to the physicality of defenders bumping you and the speed and tempo.”

Harden also called his relationship with president of basketball operations Daryl Morey irreparable, comparing it to losing trust in a marriage.

Harden requested a trade in late June, after exercising his $35.6 million player option. The Sixers — and presumably other teams, including the Rockets — were not willing to offer Harden a four-year max contract as an unrestricted free agent. When a trade with his preferred destination, the Los Angeles Clippers, did not materialize at the beginning of the player transaction cycle, Harden called Morey “a liar” in August and vowed to never play for any organization he was a part of again. The NBA fined Harden $100,000 for those comments “indicating that he would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team.”

Months later, the Sixers and Clippers remain in a stalemate on a potential deal. A source reiterated to The Inquirer Wednesday that the Clippers are not willing to include up-and-coming guard Terance Mann in the package, which makes things a non-starter for the Sixers.

Morey has been adamant that he will only trade Harden for a star-caliber player who will help the Sixers maximize Embiid’s prime or for assets they then can flip for that type of player. The executive has set a precedent with this type of situation, two years ago keeping a holding-out Ben Simmons on the roster until the blockbuster deadline deal with the Nets for, coincidentally, Harden.

» READ MORE: James Harden cynics predicted drama would eventually hit the Sixers. It didn’t take long.

Before the most recent turn in the Harden saga, a source said Morey is unlikely to allow Harden’s behavior to force his hand. If Harden became too disruptive, the source surmised, new coach Nick Nurse could bench Harden and let rising guard Tyrese Maxey fully take over as the primary ballhandler.

Still, some outsiders — especially in a passionate Philly market — remain vocally antsy to quickly cut ties with Harden, to make a trade now (even if it is less-than-satisfactory) to end any potential drama, distraction or irritation. The belief inside the organization, a source recently told The Inquirer, is that such a move would be too reckless to justify; that it would all but guarantee the Sixers drop to a lower tier, instead of maintaining hope that they could re-enter that category in 2023-24.

The Sixers waiting on a trade leaves room for other teams to reassess their roster once the season gets underway, based on injury, performance or other variables. One team may believe it needs to make a splashy move to course-correct or ignite fan interest, or that a player of Harden’s caliber could vault it to a title-challenging level (or relevance). On Dec. 15, most players that signed as free agents this past summer become eligible to be traded, broadening the scope for potential packages and multi-team deals.

The collective bargaining agreement’s new restrictions on high-spending teams — and that the Sixers could have max cap space for the 2024 offseason — also offer potential for better players to be available on the trade market, and for the Sixers to become a useful partner.

This approach also accounts for the fact that star players around the league are constantly evaluating their team environments and ask out when ready for change. This time two years ago, for instance, Harden had not yet turned disgruntled with the Nets. This time last year, Kevin Durant had reconciled with the Nets following a summer trade request — but then was sent to the Phoenix Suns at the deadline.

Harden led the NBA in assists last season (10.7 per game) while also adding 21 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He is a 10-time All-Star and the 2018 MVP, but, at 34 years old, has lost some explosion while driving to the basket and sputtered at times during last spring’s playoffs.

Keith Pompey contributed to this report.