Joe DeCamara thanked Philadelphia 76ers president of operations Daryl Morey on Friday morning, following the news that James Harden is opting into his $35.6 million option for 2023-24 to work with the franchise to be traded.
"The big thing I want to say out of the gate is thank you Daryl Morey for standing up for what is right and just in the world," DeCamara said at the beginning of Friday's 94WIP Morning Show. "The reality is, it's actually kind of simple. If a player doesn't try his hardest—and by the way, if he consistently doesn't try his hardest, doesn't run back on defense, just all of the nonsense that Harden pulled. Who, by the way, is not a bad player. Not a great player, but not a bad player. If a player doesn't try his hardest and he happens to be declining in skill set then a team should not reward him with a long-term big deal.
"And I was fearful that the 76ers would and we found out last night they are not. And it makes me super freakin' happy that they did what is right and just."
DeCamara understands the challenge for the Sixers to trade Harden for an adequate return will not be difficult and he made it clear he does not want Kyrie Irving, who is reportedly a possibility.
"Now, to be clear, this is not going to be the easiest thing to pivot out from because the Sixers, in my opinion, lack leverage to a certain extent. I mean teams know Harden wants out, plus he's not that good. So it's not going to be particularly easy to get, I don't think, a truly great player. Harden, if he's not traded, could cause a hell of a stink as he caused in Houston and as he caused with the Brooklyn Nets forcing his way out of two spots...What the Sixers eventually get back probably won't make them a championship team...And by the way it freakin' better not be Kyrie Irving back, let me just put that out there before we go any further."
DeCamara listed Harden among his least liked all-time Philadelphia athletes, mentioning others like Jason Babin, Asante Samuel, Carson Wentz, and Ben Simmons in the same category.
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