James Harden’s never-ending, worsening and utterly perplexing saga with the 76ers finally has an ending.
The star guard — who attempted to force his way out of Philadelphia after doing the same with the Nets — will head to Los Angeles for another fresh start, with the Clippers and the 76ers agreeing to a deal just five days after the teams reportedly paused trade talks, according to ESPN.
Los Angeles will send Nic Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and KJ Martin — as well as draft picks — in exchange for Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev, ESPN reported.
The Sixers are acquiring Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, multiple draft picks and a pick swap for James Harden, PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev, sources tell ESPN.
It wasn’t immediately clear what Los Angeles sent back to Philadelphia in the deal.
Harden’s desire to part ways with the 76ers became clear in June when he opted into his $35.6-million deal, and that was followed by four months where his relationship with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey kept deteriorating.
He didn’t play in their season opener — with the absence labeled personal reasons, one that later prompted an NBA investigation — and was told not to travel with the team on their first road trip.
The Clippers immediately emerged as his preferred destination, but that — as evident by the Damian Lillard trade, when his desire to play for the Heat only led to a deal to the Bucks — didn’t exactly make anything easier.
Still, Joel Embiid, the league’s reigning MVP and another 76ers star, hoped Harden would change his mind and return for Philadelphia to make another run at an NBA title.
The drama took another twist when the 76ers paused trade talks and reports surfaced that Harden would report to training camp, even as Harden blasted Morey publicly — at an Adidas event in China — for being a “liar” and someone he’d never play for again.
He was fined $100,000 for those comments, but it didn’t change the reality of his situation with the season nearing: Both sides, it appeared, were at a standoff.
Harden didn’t really participate in training camp, though when he spoke with reporters Oct. 13, the 34-year-old referenced playing in Philadelphia’s preseason finale.
“This is not even about this situation,” Harden told reporters that day. “This is in life, when you lose trust in someone. It’s like a marriage. You lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It’s pretty simple.”
This story originally appeared on NYPost