There seems to be some uncertainty as to what Morey's promise was. Was it:
A: Last year, promising to take care of Harden this summer if he took a paycut last year.
B: This year, opt into your contract and we'll trade you somewhere. Win-win. But the offers sucked. So Morey pulled the plug and said no trades. It does sound like Morey may have made this second promise.
Anyway, not sure which one Harden is referring to in terms of Morey being a liar.
I suspect it was first A, then B. Then neither promise came true. Players - especially players like Harden - probably don't just give up $15m, even if it is to sign his binky PJ Tucker. There was some informal agreement that he was going to get taken care of the following year. And as for the second, he had to have some belief that Morey was going to trade him after the first broken promise otherwise he wouldn't have opted in.
The second broken promise is what's put him in a tight spot now, as you say he can either show up and play for a guy who he thinks screwed him or not show and get fined by the guy who he thinks screwed him, or try and put 50 pounds on and be a malcontent to force them to trade him and tank his value, thus making it even harder for the guy who he thinks screwed him to trade him. Not a good position for James 
Yeah, it’s important to keep in mind that Harden was always going to opt in because the free agency landscape was pretty arid - I’m almost certain you’ve outlined the evolution of the discussions correctly, and I’m almost as certain there won’t be any proof. Otherwise Morey & Philly are going to be facing serious repercussions.
Let's also not forget that Harden had his eye on free agency the second the Sixers got bounced. He failed in yet another city, and, again, it was apparently not his fault.
Then he seemingly strikes out in free agency and comes crawling back to the Sixers, wanting whatever original deal was discussed the prior offseason.
But the Sixers had also reevaluated their relationship after losing to Boston. Imo the Sixers would take him back on a more reasonable deal but don't want to nuke their cap for several years on a max deal.
So they sign him with the intent to either trade him or let him expire alongside Tobias Harris's contract next summer, giving them a max cap slot.
Harden of course wants to be traded to LA, as it has the best strip clubs, and good late-night food to fill his belly after nights of heavy drinking.
But LA has crap assets, and no other team makes a good offer for old fat Harden. Philly wants players back who will help them contend now, or they want expirings and picks. Neither deal materializes. So Philly ultimately decides it's better off trying to contend with Harden this year and then let him expire. Or maybe they patch things up and sign him to a mutually beneficial deal next summer.
Harden is angry about not getting his money and his strip clubs.
And so here we are.
