James Harden remains absent from the Philadelphia 76ers practices and missed the final preseason game on Friday which raised more questions than answers.
It was yet another instance of uncertainty on what the future holds for Harden.
Hall of Famer Paul Pierce had something to say about it.
“To be honest, I can see this maybe — this could possibly be James Harden’s last year in the league,” Pierce said on the latest Showtime Basketball.
Harden has been wanting a trade from the 76ers for a while and said himself he would make things uncomfortable until that comes to fruition.
“Think about it,” Pierce continued. “Like, he’s made a lot of money — and this has nothing to do with his game — but we say this happen with Allen Iverson, we saw it happen with [Carmelo Anthony], Melo chose to play a certain role and got back in and played a few years, but James wants to play a certain way. What style fits to where James Harden can go and they can be like, welcome him with open arms and say, ‘This is your team,’ or, ‘Are you going to play a role here?'”
The trade rumors had a possible move to Los Angeles for Harden to play for the Clippers, but those talks have since diminished.
“What team is going to say, ‘I’ll give up some young pieces?’ What contender is going to say, ‘James Harden can get us over the top?’ Like you said, the wiggle, ain’t no more wiggles left, it’s looking like to me. It’s one wiggle left, that’s the Clippers.”
Harden hasn’t been with the team since last Sunday and when he was a no-show during a recent practice, his teammate Joel Embiid was asked if it could impact the team.
“I don’t know,” Embid told reporters. “Maybe he has something to do, I’m not sure. So, but — we had a good practice — we competed, went up and down a little bit, was great for me, and I’m still coming back and feeling myself, but I thought today was great.”
Who knows what’ll happen next in the Harden saga.
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.