Insider Predicts Sixers-Clippers' James Harden Talks Aren’t Over

When the summer of 2023 kicked off, Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden dreamt of playing for the Los Angeles Clippers next season.

At this point in the offseason, that dream has been interrupted and painted as a situation that is unlikely to come back to him.

Last month, the Sixers reportedly shut down trade talks with the Clippers after the two sides were far away from finding a deal they could agree on. The Clippers were far from frustrated, as they felt there wasn’t an avenue to a deal anyway.

Harden voiced his frustrations less than 48 hours after the news became public. And a few days after calling Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey a liar, Harden also mentioned that he believed his situation with Morey and the Sixers was beyond repair.

Since that August update regarding the Sixers-Clippers negotiations, neither team has picked up the phone to talk about James Harden. While ESPN’s Brian Windhorst led everybody to believe that the Clippers are moving forward without Harden and don’t plan to look back, another ESPN Insider is skeptical of that idea.

Clippers Will Be Back?

“I don’t think we’ve seen the last of those talks,” Zach Lowe said on NBA Today this week. “I have a feeling those talks will be reignited at some point.”

Both teams have to play it patient here. As the Clippers hold the leverage since Harden’s market has been dry this offseason, they don’t see a need to negotiate with the Sixers as long as Morey’s price tag remains inflated.

On the Sixers side of it, Philadelphia doesn’t want to part ways with an All-Star-caliber player by getting a return that’s cheap compared to the value that’s going out.

Practicing patience is the way to go for each side. Los Angeles can enter the 2023-2024 season and get an idea of what a Harden-less Clippers squad looks like. If they feel they need an upgrade at point guard and can afford moving players or picks the Sixers are interested in, then Harden’s there for the taken.

The Sixers might be in an uncomfortable situation by keeping Harden, but it’s not a storm they haven’t weathered before. They can wait it out in hopes that Harden accepts he’ll stick around and give the team another run.

Another option would be to wait for the Clippers or another team to realize they want to swap a valuable package for Harden to improve their title chances.

What will happen exactly is unknown, but Lowe’s hunch is that the Sixers and the Clippers could be back on the phone at some point during the season.