Mavs’ Kyrie Irving Speaks on 76ers GM ‘Dishonesty’ with James Harden Contract Talks
DALLAS — As the upcoming season still is weeks away, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers remain in a standoff despite an ongoing trade request. The former NBA MVP appears to be trying to intensify the situation.
When speaking to the crowd during an Adidas World in China, Harden made clear that he doesn't want to play for the Sixers anymore due to team president of basketball operations Daryl Morey. Harden called him a "liar" and stated that he is unwilling to be a member of the same organization.
“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said. "Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
Harden's latest comments align with a report from NBA Analysis Network, stating some close to Harden stance for a while that he "intends to never wear a Sixers uniform again." He desired to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, but a deal "never got close."
In a reply to a post from ESPN's Adrian Wojnaorwski, Dallas Mavericks superstar Kyrie Irving defended Harden's stance for how the Sixers handled the situation.
"Is he Disgruntled Adrian?" Irving asked. "Or is he holding Darryl Morey accountable for his dishonesty and lack of transparency throughout the contract negotiation process this summer?"
Harden would like to be traded by the Sixers before training camp starts, but the team must do what it takes to sustain a championship contending roster around Joel Embiid before it's too late. There doesn't appear to be an ideal outcome that works for both sides, which surely will require one side to accept an underwhelming outcome.
Irving faced a situation where a resolution wasn't going to be reached with the Brooklyn Nets before his midseason trade, resulting in being moved to the Mavs. He later received a three-year, $120 million contract from Dallas after preserving his Bird rights by pushing for the midseason trade.
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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