OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: AUGUST 2023

It sounds like you're changing your stance that Harden had no other way to get to the Clippers

One reason to not take the word of a GM that he'll trade you in the future is that it is difficult to know what your current team will get in return for you. The GM works for the president/owner of the team and his #1 priority will always be to do what it best for the team over what is best for the outgoing player. If what is available for the outgoing player is far less valuable than anticipated, I'd argue the GM has a duty to not make a trade that is pennies on the dollar.

This gets back to my original point: If your #1 priority is going to a specific team and/or not playing for your current team moving forward, I would say that re-signing, a non-sign & trade deal would be about as foolish as it gets; it's the ONLY outcome that relinquishes your ability to obtain your #1 priority. Now if you value money more and are willing to roll the dice that other teams think you're worth significant assets, then that's fine, but know you're taking a risk.

Pretty simple stuff.

 

You understand, thanks.

 

I'm glad you came around!

 

But he didn't opt out. That means Morey doesn't have to do anything. Harden signed on that line. Now he can wait until this season is over. A season in which he'll collect $35 million.

If Harden wants a trade to happen he should be talking to the Clippers about upping their offer.

Harden was trying to game the system AGAIN, and now he's throwing a fit because he isn't getting what he wants.

He signed a contract with Philly for this season. Which means he's obligated to Philly until the end of the season.

This is simple.

 

Very simple.

 

I don't believe that.

He opted in because he couldn't find a comparable contract in FA. Only Houston and Spurs had the ability to pay him at least the $35M he is making. Harden's side kept trying to get Houston rumors out there. By mid-June, Houston sort of put cold water on any of the rumors indicating they would take Harden - but it would have to be at a substantial discount.

Harden's choices were:
1) Opt into the $36M contract and try and force Morey's hand in trading him
or
2) Opt out and test FA, with a very real possibility that he can only get a $20M contract.

Harden chose option #1.

Now Morey may have said that he would 'try' to trade Harden, but IMO - it was a 100% financial decision by Harden.

 

He didn’t opt out because Morey promised him he’d trade him. How many times do I have to say this?

 

I don't believe that. That's what sign and trades are for.

If a sign and trade wasn't available then a trade wasn't going to be available after Harden signed.

Makes no sense.

Harden can go to the Clippers after this season. It's not a big deal. He'll have to take a significant pay cut. But he'll survive.

Morey may have told him he'd try to trade him where he wanted to go, but I don't believe he promised anything. And if he did, it's Harden's own fault he believed him.

The contract is in clear English and the only person not living up to the contract right now is Harden.

You signed the contract. Man up and honor the contract, for once.

 

That's a favor to the receiving team. It's up to them to make it work.

That's not on Morey.

I simply don't believe that Morey reneged on a handshake deal agreed to in principle with the Clippers, Morey, and Harden.

I've seen no evidence of that. Harden is just playing the same game he always does.

 

It would be malpractice for him to the owner to even engage in a "promise." Pretty sure the players way around this situation is to engage in what is called a contract. It specifies everything and is binding. Harden failed here. I am sure that Morey said he would do his best to facilitate a trade but had to have said the interests of the Sixers is his tantamount goal. Otherwise he would have a lot of explaining to do to the owner. Cronin did the same with Dame.

 

Exactly.

 

Didn't Josh Hart just get $20 million?

 

Yep

 

If Harden is upset because he declined that $47.4 million option in exchange for the promise of an extension, then the Sixers have a problem. That would be a blatant violation of the salary cap. The whole point of that “No Unauthorized Agreements” clause is to keep teams from making wink-wink agreements to push financial commitments into the future.

 

Nic Batum's wife posted in French that this will be Nico's last season and after the next summer Olympics will retire from basketball. He's due to make 11 mill and change on the last year of his deal in LA. I loved Nico's game and he has a team in his hometown that Rayan grew up around as well. I wish him well after what will have been a 16 year career when he's finished.

 

One of my favorite Blazers ever…..quality dude!!