NBA Opens Investigation On James Harden, Daryl Morey

The NBA has opened an inquiry into the circumstances around James Harden’s public critique of Daryl Morey in which he was called “a liar.” Harden also said he will never play for a team that also employs Morey.

The league is pursuing whether Harden was portending a hold out of the 23-24 season, or if he was referencing past contract discussions with the Sixers that could be a circumvention of the cap.

Harden has privately indicated that his public comments calling Morey a “liar” on Monday morning had only been a response to Morey ending trade discussions. Harden exercised his $35.6 million player option with the Sixers in late June with the expectation he would be traded.

The Sixers told Harden that they hadn’t found a workable trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and expect him to report to camp in September.

The Sixers were stripped of two second round picks for premature conversations last offseason with P.J. Tucker and Danuel House.