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76ers president explains why Harden, Embiid are 'hard to play with'

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) and center Joel Embiid (21) Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

76ers president explains why James Harden, Joel Embiid are 'hard to play with'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/18/23

Trade rumors continue to swirl surrounding Philadelphia 76ers co-stars James Harden and Joel Embiid.

Sixers president Daryl Morey addressed that topic and more on Tuesday during an interview with 97.5's "The Anthony Gargano Show." At one point, the 50-year-old explained why he believes both Embiid and Harden are difficult to share the court with sometimes for other players.

Daryl Morey on 97.5: "I think James [Harden] is a little bit hard to play with at times. I think Joel [Embiid] is a little bit hard to play with at times. Both these guys are such dominant forces that they can be challenging for guys to play off of." #Sixers
— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) July 18, 2023

The left-handed former NBA MVP Harden is seemingly on his way out of Philadelphia after recently asking for a trade (confirmed on Tuesday), and Morey detailed what the organization is looking for in a potential swap.

"If we don't get either a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, we are not going to do it," 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells 97.5 FM of trading James Harden.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 18, 2023

In terms of the big man, Morey doesn't seem concerned about his future with the 76ers, despite what Embiid said recently. For what it's worth, the reigning MVP hinted on Monday that he was trolling people when he said he just wants to "win a championship ... whether it's in Philly or anywhere else."

Daryl Morey on Joel Embiid's comments yesterday- "He had some fun with that yesterday. That was a very Joel day."

Morey says he and Nick Nurse both spoke to Embiid at length yesterday and is confident Embiid is bought in on winning with the Sixers
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) July 18, 2023

Daryl Morey: "We have one of the best players to ever lace them up in Joel Embiid. That's a special thing. We don't take it for granted. We're gonna miss him when he's 45 years old and in the Hall of Fame as a 76er."
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) July 18, 2023

Embiid has spent his entire career with the Sixers after being selected third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. He's made six consecutive All-Star teams and won his first MVP Award this past spring but hasn't gotten the franchise past the second round of the playoffs yet.

Harden was the centerpiece of the Ben Simmons trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022.

Even though he's a 10-time All-Star and three-time scoring champion and has played alongside a slew of superstars and/or fellow MVPs like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant (twice), Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Embiid, Harden is still missing an NBA title. His only NBA Finals appearance came in 2012 with Durant and Westbrook during his third and final season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden may have lost another chance at finally earning a ring, this time with Embiid in Philadelphia.

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