Did Harden fake an injury to get traded?

[Ogaju]

The crew on TNT, LeBron, and KD, seemed to suggest this during the all-star draft. Neither captain selected him. He fell to LeBron by default. As it became apparent that KD was not going to pick his ex-teammate, the crew and LeBron began to tease him. LeBron could have helped him by piking Harden but he didn’t. It got to the point that KD who already had Embiid and Towns picked Gobert with Harden still on the board. It was pretty funny.

[Goldstar88]

More than likely. Harden will do whatever he needs to get to the team that he wants to be on. He completely sabotaged the Rockets last year, on and off the court. Can’t stand him.

[ozgod]

The crew on TNT, LeBron, and KD, seemed to suggest this during the all-star draft. Neither captain selected him. He fell to LeBron by default. As it became apparent that KD was not going to pick his ex-teammate, the crew and LeBron began to tease him. LeBron could have helped him by piking Harden but he didn’t. It got to the point that KD who already had Embiid and Towns picked Gobert with Harden still on the board. It was pretty funny.

I think they were just messing with him but I wouldn't be surprised. Players pick up phantom injuries for all sorts of reasons.

I don't think he needed to fake an injury to get traded...he just needed to tell them he wasn't going to re-sign with them and they would have moved heaven and earth to recoup some of his value in the trade market. Faking an injury helped him not have to play with people he didn't want to play with though (like Cryrie).

[KG Living Legend]

 It was worse than that.  He was showing up late not just to practice to GAMES. He ran down a loose ball and didn't even bend over to luck it up.

 He did his best to tear the team apart. He's a big baby.  God luck with the 220 million dollar extension Philly it will pay him 62 million when he's 38 years old.

 

[Kuberski33]

What's the over under on how long it takes for Harden & Doc to hate each other?  I can't see that relationship working.

[tazzmaniac]

 It was worse than that.  He was showing up late not just to practice to GAMES. He ran down a loose ball and didn't even bend over to luck it up.

 He did his best to tear the team apart. He's a big baby.  God luck with the 220 million dollar extension Philly it will pay him 62 million when he's 38 years old.

You're assuming the Sixers are going to extend him.  Harden picked up his option for next season.  So the Sixers can wait to see how things go with Harden.  If Maxey continues to develop, he could be their #2 star in a couple seasons. 

[LilRip]

I found myself laughing out loud with that TNT segment. I’m glad KD didn’t pick him lol

On a happier note, Tatum got picked 3rd on team KD, after Embiid and Ja (and after Giannis and Steph) so that was nice. Wiggins and Trae were the last 2 guys who weren’t picked.

[Celtics2021]

 It was worse than that.  He was showing up late not just to practice to GAMES. He ran down a loose ball and didn't even bend over to luck it up.

 He did his best to tear the team apart. He's a big baby.  God luck with the 220 million dollar extension Philly it will pay him 62 million when he's 38 years old.

You're assuming the Sixers are going to extend him.  Harden picked up his option for next season.  So the Sixers can wait to see how things go with Harden.  If Maxey continues to develop, he could be their #2 star in a couple seasons.

The Sixers didn’t trade Simmons and two firsts just to let him hit free agency.  Let’s get real.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

yes? of course?

I didn't know this was a discussion.

[Kuberski33]

There's an interesting post by Perk on Twitter saying Harden wanted out of Brooklyn because of Kyrie.

[celticsclay]

 It was worse than that.  He was showing up late not just to practice to GAMES. He ran down a loose ball and didn't even bend over to luck it up.

 He did his best to tear the team apart. He's a big baby.  God luck with the 220 million dollar extension Philly it will pay him 62 million when he's 38 years old.

You're assuming the Sixers are going to extend him.  Harden picked up his option for next season.  So the Sixers can wait to see how things go with Harden.  If Maxey continues to develop, he could be their #2 star in a couple seasons.

Morey is clearly obsessed with harden. Unless it is an absolute disaster they will try to extend him.

[liam]

YES.

[Moranis]

There's an interesting post by Perk on Twitter saying Harden wanted out of Brooklyn because of Kyrie.

Interesting?  I thought that was common knowledge.  It isn't an accident that Harden went from playing at a MVP level to basically quitting on the team in the span of like 4 weeks, which just happened to coincide with the Nets letting Irving play the road games. 

[jbpats]

It's a joke he even made the all star team this season.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I want to see a tampering investigation.