When James Harden exercised his player option for the 2023-24 season on June 29, it came with a caveat, one that has become familiar for the 10-time All-Star during the most recent stage of his career -- a trade request.
Harden expected the Philadelphia 76ers to trade him this offseason, the third time he has requested a trade since Jan. 2021, when he left the Houston Rockets. And when Harden focuses on finding a new team, he does not sit idly by in the interim.
The beginning of another Harden trade saga has started to play out during the past month.