Vanishing Act: The Curious Case of Harden's Absence from 76ers Practice

In a surprising turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers' star guard, James Harden, was conspicuously absent from Wednesday's practice session, a source close to ESPN reported. Harden, who's been keen on a trade since confirming his $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season, was anticipated to join the practice. Just last week, he hinted at making his preseason debut on home turf against the Atlanta Hawks.

Sources revealed that Harden, after a team meeting in New York, has spent the past few days in Houston, setting tongues wagging about his future with the franchise. The team is giving Harden an opportunity to offer an explanation for his absence before deciding on any potential repercussions. It's no secret that Harden has been yearning for a trade to the LA Clippers, yet negotiations with the two teams remain at an impasse.

In his sole media appearance since the start of training camp, Harden hinted at his possible debut, emphasizing the need to acclimate to in-game situations and the physicality of defenders. However, Harden's presence at practice on Sunday was followed by noticeable absences at Monday's shootaround and the evening game against the Brooklyn Nets. With Tuesday off, all eyes turned to Wednesday for a potential reunion with his teammates on the court.

Harden's association with 76ers' president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, has been noteworthy since Morey brought him to the Houston Rockets nearly a decade ago. However, a surprising twist occurred when Harden referred to Morey as "the front office" and openly called him a "liar" during a shoe event in China earlier this year. Harden firmly stated that any hope of reconciling with Morey was out of the question, emphasizing that trust, once lost, is not easily regained.

The anticipation continues as both Harden and Joel Embiid have sat out the initial trio of preseason games. The 76ers hold out hope for a dynamic duo performance when they face off against the Atlanta Hawks this Friday. The Harden saga continues, with fans and analysts eagerly awaiting the next twist in this unfolding drama.

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