ESPN’s Woj Says Clippers Are ‘Stepping Back’ From James Harden Trade Talks to Start Season

76ers star guard James Harden requested a trade from the team over the summer, which sparked a drama filled lead up to the season.

Harden specifically wants to be traded to the Clippers, a point he’s made clear, but no deal got done before the season started on Tuesday. On top of this, the 10-time All-Star did not travel with Philadelphia for their season opener against the Bucks on Thursday.

With this unclear future for Harden and the 76ers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski added more information about what’s going on with the guard and the Clippers on Wednesday night.

“I’m told that with the start of the season now, at least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden,” Wojnarowski said. “They’re essentially pausing them. They have talked with Philadelphia for months about a trade. They’ve made their best offer for Harden, and they’re now going to start their season and see what this team looks like with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, a healthy Paul George.”

Reporting for NBA Countdown: With the season starting, the Clippers are stepping back from James Harden trade talks pic.twitter.com/6KqCRqrJls

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 25, 2023

Wojnarowski noted that the Clippers may revisit a Harden trade later in the season, but that it’s possible Los Angeles already gave their best offer to Philadelphia.