James Harden skips first practice of Sixers training camp, but is expected to join teammates

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — James Harden did not report Tuesday in time for the first day of 76ers training camp at Colorado State University. However, the disgruntled point guard is expected to join his teammates here soon.

This comes after Harden was a no-show at the team’s media day Monday in Camden. At that time, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey revealed he had not personally communicated with Harden since early summer.

“Happy,” guard Patrick Beverley said when asked about Harden’s return. “Like I’ve said and will continue to say, it’s hard to replace or get anything similar as a James Harden, so hell yeah. We’re catching vibe here, we’re welcoming him with open arms. Obviously things that have to deal with players and upper office is out of our hands, but as far as teammates, hell yeah, we can’t wait to see him.”

The Sixers find themselves in a tough spot, especially on paper after the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks made major roster moves recently.

Meanwhile, the Sixers figure to either have a dissatisfied Harden or be without him altogether. He led the league in assists at 10.7 per game last season, and was by far the Sixers’ best ball handler and facilitator. The Sixers don’t have anyone on the roster to adequately replace Harden and help keep pace with the Bucks and Celtics in the race for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Until Harden returns or is traded, Tyrese Maxey will handle the primary ball handling duties. While he’s one of the league’s top young talents, the fourth-year guard is viewed more as a scoring combo guard and was one of the main beneficiaries of Harden’s passing last season. If Maxey slots in at starting point guard, Beverley will be his backup.

“Today, we just came in and practiced,” Maxey said. “If he comes in, that will be great. I love James like I said ... [Monday] ... That would be great. As a brotherhood, we would love to see him. But right now, we have to focus on practice today. It was great.”

» READ MORE: James Harden a no-show at Sixers media day

Harden’s expected arrival doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll participate in practice. The 2018 MVP remains upset with the Sixers for failing to meet his trade demands.

When the 34-year-old opted into his $35.6 million player option for this season on June 29, he did so with the expectation that Morey would trade him this summer, preferably to Harden’s hometown Los Angeles Clippers.

But there was no traction on a deal, leading the Sixers to break off negotiations in August. At the time, they expected Harden to return to the team.

That led to Harden calling Morey “a liar” and stating he would never play for an organization that Morey is a part of.

Sources have said the Clippers remain interested in Harden. They just don’t want to give up a lot for the three-time scoring champion. However, the Sixers want an All-Star-type player in return or a package than will enable them to acquire that type of player.

Aware that Harden might not show up, the Sixers had contingency plans in place whether he showed up or not. The team also has plans for whether Harden becomes a distraction after showing up.

“He wasn’t here today, right?” coach Nick Nurse said. “If he’s here, like we said on everything, we’ll get ready to make some adjustments on everything. And we’ll see what happens.”

» READ MORE: Where does James Harden stand with the Sixers? Daryl Morey, Joel Embiid weigh in at Media Day.

The Sixers will fine Harden for the time missed. Morey said Monday that Harden will be treated like every other player on the roster under the collective bargaining agreement.

Harden will be subjected to other ramifications the longer he stays out because this is the final year of his deal and he cannot negotiate an extension.

According to the CBA, any player who “withholds playing services for more than 30 days after the start of the last season covered by his contract” could be deemed to have violated his contract and forbidden from entering free agency and signing with another team until the team he last played for “expressly agrees otherwise.”

Missing the start of training camp is nothing new for Harden.

While with the Houston Rockets, Harden showed up late for the camp in 2021 and requested a trade. The Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets early into the season.

This whole situation has the potential to become a distraction, especially for Nurse, a new coach trying to place his imprint on a new team.

Coaches — especially new ones — want to implement their system in training camp, not have scenarios set in place to appease whichever players shows up.

“I don’t think it’s been much of a distraction at all, so far,” Nurse said. “First of all, thankful this is my second chance at starting with a new team. There’s a lot of things I’m doing to get the staff up to speed, getting everybody around the building beating to the same drum. There’s so much work to do in that.

“I’d just say every now and then there’s conversation about it that probably takes up a few minutes a day. That’s it so far. So it hasn’t been bad. And again, I think the players have been doing a great job of focusing on what we’re doing.”

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In regards to still not having a definitive plan, Nurse said you have to be fluid in this day and age.

“Guys come, guys go,” he said. “James was [expected to become] a free agent when I interviewed for the job, or when I took the job as well. So again, we didn’t know all that. We worked very hard thinking about this team the way it is now.

“I think, again, if that changes any way, whether it’s with James, or other guys coming in, we’ll make the adjustments hopefully as need be.”

NOTE: Reserve center Montrezl Harrell is not with the team for training camp. He’ll be away from the squad while rehabbing his torn ACL and medial meniscal tear in his right knee.