After missing Media Day and the first day of training camp, James Harden made it to Colorado for the remainder of the Sixers’ camp. There’s still time for a trade to happen before the season, but don’t bank on the New York Knicks being involved even though the front office has accumulated the assets to get a deal done.
When Harden exercised his $35.6 million option and simultaneously requested a trade, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Knicks were interested in the guard. Some fans began to panic, while others were so used to New York being connected to any star player that it wasn’t a cause for concern.
Clearly, nothing came out of the Knicks’ early interest in Harden. Nothing has come from teams’ interest in him, period, not even the Clippers, his preferred destination.
Earlier this week, Wojnarowski confirmed that Harden isn’t on New York’s trade radar, not even for a one-year rental.
Woj: “ …The Knicks talked to the Sixers early on in this thing, but there’s no great motivation for the Knicks to do a 1-year rental on James Harden…” Full: https://t.co/ERUiYvB4jC pic.twitter.com/y0K9DHtxuE
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 3, 2023
Knicks not interested in trading for James Harden for one-year rental
Adrian Wojnarowski said on Wednesday that James Harden’s first day at Philadelphia’s training camp was “drama-free.” How long it’ll stay that way is another question. Harden called Daryl Morey a liar over the summer and said he thinks his relationship with the organization is beyond repair.
It’d be in New York’s best interest if Harden were a distraction for the Sixers because of Joel Embiid’s future. Philadelphia can’t afford to ruin another year of the reigning MVP’s prime, and although Morey said Embiid is committed to winning a championship with the Sixers, that actually happening took a significant dip with the Bucks and Celtics’ offseason moves.
Another season could pass without the Knicks making their superstar move, and eyes are already on the 2024 offseason. Joel Embiid? Donovan Mitchell? Who knows what will happen between now and then, but at least New York didn’t take 10 steps backward with a James Harden trade!