If Clippers Budge, 76ers Might Not be Terance Mann's Final Destination

The 76ers want Terance Mann included in a James Harden trade with the Clippers, but it seems likely he would be re-routed.

After spending the last couple of weeks showing up for practice and taking a business-as-usual approach with the Philadelphia 76ers, James Harden decided to head back into a holdout.

The Sixers didn’t anticipate having Harden around for Monday’s preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets, considering he told the team he was eyeing a debut in this Friday’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Hawks.

But Harden didn’t travel with the team to Brooklyn this time around. And when the Sixers returned to practice in Camden, New Jersey, on Wednesday morning, Harden was a no-show. According to reports, the star guard was in Houston and now faces a potential fine.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Harden would need to provide a reason for the absence that the Sixers “deem worthy” of being excused. If not, a fine is coming. So far, according to Amick, it seems that all signs point to Harden being fined by the team “going forward.”

Harden Could Run up Hefty Tab With Holdout

It’s apparent Harden’s frustrations are once again centered around the Sixers’ inability to strike a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. While talks were heating up once again after the two teams stepped away from the negotiating table in the summer, there hasn’t been much progress since.

The Clippers don’t want to part ways with multiple first-round picks and refuse to include Terance Mann in the deal. Meanwhile, the Sixers want at least two first-rounders or the veteran wing to go along with draft compensation.

While the Sixers have been reportedly insistent on landing Mann, it seems that their interest might not be a result of snagging the veteran and keeping him, rather they could have deals on the table to flip him in the event they acquire him.

Per Amick, the Sixers are “known already to have trades lined up” on the Mann front.

“For the Sixers’ part, they believe Harden’s ire should be aimed at the Clippers. If the Clippers would put Mann in the deal while also giving up the unprotected first, the pick swap and matching salaries, Harden would have his wish, and the 76ers would then have a chance to pursue the sort of high-end player via trade that would keep them in title contention. Philadelphia is known to already have trades lined up in which it would receive a first-round pick in exchange for Mann.”

It appears the Sixers still value multiple first-round picks in a Harden deal, so they could likely be flipped for a star-caliber player later on down the line. While it seemed like the Sixers wanted Mann to stick around, it appears that the fifth-year veteran is more appealing to a third team that could potentially get involved.

However, the Clippers remain unmoved and, apparently, unserious. As a result, Harden remains a Sixer, which is the worst-case scenario in his mind. While Harden claimed he had hopes of retiring in Philadelphia after he was traded to the Sixers from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, his frustration with the team’s front office after the 2023 playoff run led to him reaching disgruntled territory.

For a moment, it seemed Harden would play ball and remain patient, but the saga has already taken a turn. Will he return to practice on Thursday? Nobody knows for sure. Will Harden suit up for the Sixers for the first time this preseason on Friday? Nick Nurse is operating with the belief he could, but the team isn’t going to hold their breath.

Soon, Harden’s next move will be revealed as the Sixers face the Atlanta Hawks at home on Friday night.