Harden gets wish, 76ers trade him to Clippers

PHILADELPHIA — James Harden got his trade to the Clippers.

The 76ers sent Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev to Los Angeles for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, K.J. Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 draft-pick swap, and an additional first-rounder from a third team, a person familiar with the trade told the Associated Press.

The 34-year-old Harden vowed he would never play for a franchise run by 76ers team president Daryl Morey, and the disgruntled guard had yet to play for the team this season. Harden had picked up his $35.6 million contract option in June with the belief the team would trade him. When a deal did not immediately materialize, Harden’s relationship with the 76ers soured further.

The 10-time All-Star led the NBA in assists last season with 10.7 per game, but it was Harden’s wildly fluctuating scoring that frustrated the Sixers and helped doom them in the Eastern Conference second-round loss to the Celtics.

Harden, acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from Brooklyn, is now off to his fifth team.

Harden was a late arrival to training camp and continued to practice with the 76ers until he was told to stay home for the team’s first two road games in the wake of the trade demand. The lone time he spoke at practice, Harden said that his fractured relationship with Morey could not be repaired — comparing it to a broken marriage.

Coach Nick Nurse had said Harden would not play until he met certain conditioning requirements. Harden was scheduled to practice with the 76ers Tuesday.

Harden, who told the 76ers the Clippers were his preferred team, now joins a loaded roster intent on making an NBA championship push. He joins Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook in a veteran lineup that was set to play Tuesday night against Orlando.

Harden was reunited with Morey in Philadelphia at the 2022 trade deadline and seemed comfortable in his role as a playmaker while the offense ran through Joel Embiid.

Harden even declined his $47.4 million option in June 2022, saying he wanted to give the 76ers financial flexibility to improve their roster and compete for a championship.

He signed a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million last season with a $35.6 million player option for this season.

Harden appeared determined to sever ties with the Sixers in August after he called Morey a liar at a promotional event in China.