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Report: James Harden wary of requesting trade due to public backlash

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While there’s still an open debate going between ESPN insiders over whether the Nets and 76ers are in open negotiations on a potential James Harden trade, there does seem to be a consensus that Harden wants out of Brooklyn.

On Thursday morning, hours before the trade deadline set to expire at 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that James Harden wants a trade – he just doesn’t want to formally request one.

Via ESPN:

“He has resisted making that formal request out of fear of the public backlash that would come with asking out of a second franchise in consecutive seasons, sources told ESPN.

Harden is hopeful that 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey secures a trade for him prior to Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline.”

For Harden, potentially not getting what you want at the deadline over fear of “backlash” seems short-sighted. What would be worse – the short period of public backlash for requesting a trade, or the ongoing backlash from Nets fans over the next few months if he stays with the team while everyone expects he wants out at the first opportunity?

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