James Harden may be giving one last middle finger to the Brooklyn Nets on his way out of town.
Adam Zagoria of the New York Times reported on Saturday that Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, two of the players that the Nets acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Harden trade, were unable to play in that night’s game against the Miami Heat despite both players being in Miami. The reason was because Harden had yet to officially report to the 76ers and take his physical so that the trade could be completed.
Video emerged earlier in the day of Harden landing in Philadelphia and greeting Sixers GM Daryl Morey. But Harden apparently did not officially report for his physical in time to get the trade finalized before the Nets’ tipoff against the Heat.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski did eventually report (albeit after the Nets had already tipped off) that Harden passed his physical, thereby completing the deal. The 76ers were also in action Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Harden was never expected to play in that game after an alleged hamstring injury kept him out of the last few games of his Nets career.
Did Harden drag his feet so he could get in one more slight at his old team before their pivotal game in the standings against the Heat? That is probably what some people are thinking. Between that and the report about Harden acting sketchy with the Nets before his trade, the ex-MVP will definitely not be getting a warm welcome when he returns to Brooklyn to face the Nets.
Photo: Feb 1, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
