[Jackson] The NBA said the reason for Harden’s $100,000 fine was because he indicated he would “not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team.” So players can’t hold out or threaten without major $ consequences.
The NBA said the reason for Harden's $100,000 fine was because he indicated he would "not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team." So players can't hold out or threaten without major $ consequences.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 22, 2023
by Kimber80
26 Comments
OK, but … I would think that $100,000 to James Harden is like me finding a few nickels in the cushions of my couch?
Kinda 1 sided. If an exec said “This player will never play for us” nothing happens.
why is the story with star players on their last year always like, “He better play awesome, that’s the best and only path” to more money/new contract/whatever.
countless players have proved it wrong forever but it’s still the go-to for talking heads and redditors.
like bill simmons on with jacoby and the other guy and they’re all like “He’s gotta play and be awesome that’s his best chance!”
the evidence for this strategy is…..??
garbage
So he can continue call him a liar then. If I was James, I’m calling Morey a liar again into the next microphone that’s in my face.
they are already facing consequences if they actually do hold out tf is the point of this
This is literally illegal and a violation of labor law
I want to be upset but James can afford 100K
since no one else is asking the hard questions, this is around 1700 bottles of his wine
That’s the money he made on that Chinese live stream lol
Because of the implication.
Guess this means James Harden better Just play ball or else! Big money consequences for sure.
Huh. The NBA is firing back. (As best they can. 100k is chump change but it is something).
When Harden escalates, the fine will get larger. (Again, chump change.)
This is the League telling Harden that if he fucks around the League is backing Philly to the full extent (again, symbolically nothing) of the CBA.
A few days ago, I’d have put the odds on Harden’s contract being voided at 0.01%. We are officially out of the fractions. It’s 1% and rising.
Is this a fine Harden has to pay, or does the players association pay this fine?
Miami fans said the league wouldn’t do anything about this and was only mad at Dame and the heat
I quite literally cannot understand how people are siding with Harden. He doesn’t want to play there, we get it. He signed that extension willingly, just for 5 weeks later him to request a trade. He SIGNED the contract, he should’ve seen this coming if this was his plan the entire time.
Stand your ground Harden fuck Morey and the NBA!
The entire idea of sign and trade should be illegal.
He and Morey did an under the table deal which has become the norm in this league, and in other sports; see Kylian Mbappe and PSG.
The league previewed fines like this in the memo they issued last month re Lillard:
> “We have advised Goodwin and Lillard that any future comments, made privately to teams or publicly, suggesting Lillard will not fully perform the services called for under his player contract in the event of a trade will subject Lillard to discipline by the NBA. ***We also have advised the Players Association that any similar comments by players or their agents will be subject to discipline going forward.”***
My guess is Harden admitted to the league that he told the Sixers that he won’t play until they trade him.
I think the NBPA should appeal this. The CBA explicitly prohibits (i) publicly requesting a trade, and (ii) withholding services. The CBA does not explicitly prohibit privately threatening to withhold services while privately requesting a trade.
If the league wanted to punish that behavior, they should have negotiated it with the union. Instead, they’re trying to punish it through the broad “detrimental to the league” clause.
Executives and players air their grievances and speak their minds via leaks to the media or in Dame’s case, through his agent (as well as the media). Harden did it front and center on camera multiple times. Although the motives are generally similar, I also recognize the NBA could not allow a player publicly state he would not honor his contract without any kind of punishment.
Whichever side you take in this entire saga, it is absolutely notable that the league has come down quite quickly and this strongly with a maximum financial penalty on Harden. Organizations have felt the league has waffled often in situations like these and that they’ve basically been hostage to disgruntled players. Nobody wants to lose $100K and Harden will know going further that continued insubordinance will lead to further penalty. I don’t think it is going to make him feel any rosier about playing for the Sixers but is a reflection of the lack of leverage he has.
Good thing he opted in now he has extra money to eat some of these fines.
People downplay money so much , I wouldn’t want to lose a 100k under any circumstance. I’m sure harden would much rather waste that on himself than give it to the NBA
100k for Harden isn’t a major consequence lol, he earns almost $6m/month for 6 months of work…….
My dude can cause blasphemy everyday and get fined everyday and still have half his paycheck left over.
it’s amazing to me how Morey has done this bad of job thus far and has gotten away without any criticism whatsoever. Even the one ounce of criticism here from a player calling him an untrustworthy liar, and the player gets hit with a massive fine lol
Indication is not action, this fine is crazy.
How is that fair? The issue is between Harden and the team. Are the Sixers just going to call their “big brother” the NBA for everything?
The NBA don’t own the team. Butt out, Silver.