Clippers no longer pursue James Harden via trade from 76ers / News - Basketnews.com

The Clippers will only acquire Harden mid-season, NBA insider Brian Windhorst notes.

Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon SMI via ZUMA Press - Scanpix Credit Brian Rothmuller/Icon SMI via ZUMA Press - Scanpix

James Harden got into an open conflict with the Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey after the club shut down trade talks. Now, it seems like the most likely trade destination has ended the pursuit as well.

Harden opted into his player deal this summer to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. However, news came out in the middle of August that the Sixers were no longer negotiating to trade the star guard.

When the talks did not materialize after a month since the player declared his wish to get traded, Harden publicly called Morey a liar and later got heavily fined for it by the NBA.

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Clippers have shut down trade talks and would only acquire the player during the upcoming year.

"They almost had a deal for Malcolm Brogdon, and then that deal fell apart. They tried to trade for James Harden, and that deal didn't happen. From what I understand, it was the Clippers who said, 'Ok, there's no deal here, we're going to move on'," the renowned journalist said during The Hoop Collective podcast.

"While I assume they could make a deal mid-season, I assume that this is what they're going to go with," he continued. "While they hunted for other point guards, I assume this means Russ [Westbrook] will be their starter."

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