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Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
Although what James Harden really wants is a trade, he will be separated from the Houston Rockets until he can produce six negative tests for COVID-19, according to Shams Charania from Atlético and Stadium.
Harden was absent for individual practice and had not yet rejoined the team for the first day of practice Sunday. Instead, Harden was in Atlanta, where he celebrated rapper Lil Baby’s birthday, and then spent time in Las Vegas, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon.
According to McMahon, Harden did not arrive at the Toyota Center for his first COVID-19 test until Tuesday.
The eight-time All-Star turned down an extension that would have made him the first player in the league to receive more than $ 50 million per year, with $ 103 million in two years. Instead, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Harden wanted to reunite with Kevin Durant at the Brooklyn Nets, where he could also play alongside Kyrie Irving.
McMahon and Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that the star also told Houston that “he would be open to a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers or possibly other contenders.”
According to that report, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who was hired this offseason after 13 seasons as the Rockets’ general manager, “has no intention” of changing a roster that includes a pair of All -Stars in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
For now, Harden remains in Houston in what may remain an awkward situation. New head coach Stephen Silas, a former assistant to the Dallas Mavericks, had not spoken to the star amid the tension, but broke his silence Wednesday when he “saluted” the star, according to MacMahon.
It is unclear what Harden’s reaction was, considering a report from Jeff Zillgitt from USA Today That said Harden “wanted to get out of Houston as soon as the Rockets signed” Silas, who “was not among Harden’s best options” to replace Mike D’Antoni on the bench.
The ESPN report also said the Rockets will not part ways with Harden unless he Return it includes “the cornerstone of a young franchise” and first-round picks or rising stars in its rookie deals.
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