If James Harden ever does take the court again for the Sixers, it sounds like it’s going to be awhile.
Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Harden remains away from the team’s practices and that it is “increasingly unclear whether Harden will be available to play in the Sixers opener vs. Milwaukee on Thursday (Wednesday AEDT).”
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Fellow ESPN NBA insider Ramona Shelburne appeared on the “NBA Today” on Monday and provided the sober reality of the situation.
“They just have to operate as if he’s not there — because he’s not there,” Shelburne said.
“He hasn’t done anything competitively since he left the team. He’s working out, but even in camp, he didn’t really do much competitively, where he’s taking contact, maybe one drill.”
Harden has reportedly cited personal reasons as to why he has been away from the team, and has maintained consistently this offseason that he feels he was lied to by Sixers president Daryl Morey, presumably over a perceived promise that he would’ve either been traded or received a long-term contract extension by now.
While Harden’s preferred destination is the Clippers, the Sixers have not yet reached a trade compensation package that they find acceptable to part with the former league MVP.
Shelburne continued to say that the timetable for Harden’s return is fluid and could take awhile.
“Even if he comes back, let’s say, there’s a game Thursday, they’re off Friday, Saturday’s Nick Nurse’s return to Toronto, Sunday’s the home opener. There’s gonna be a huge ramp up James Harden has to do to get into basketball shape — even if he does come back,” she said.
“So we’re anywhere close to him even coming back. We need to plan for him to not be there for quite some time.”
This article originally appeared in the New York Post.