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原標題：Why is James Harden suddenly playing ball with the Sixers?
        (哈登為何會突然想繼續為七六人打球？)

來源：https://theathletic.com/4934970/

作者：Sam Amick, Shams Charania


原文＋翻譯：

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — When James Harden left the Moby Arena practice floor
after his second day of training camp practice on Thursday, it was only
fitting that the man who has drawn so much ire from the Philadelphia 76ers
star for all these months, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey,
was on his way in.

科羅拉多・科林斯堡——在哈登於星期四離開莫比體育館的訓練場地時，近數個月來一直
不滿這位七六人球星的籃球營運總管莫雷也順勢走了進來。

Yet the two did not cross paths, nor share any cross words. And so it was
that the light mood that has surprised so many since Harden decided to rejoin
the team Wednesday remained intact. Harden was all smiles before he left,
talking with assistant coaches Bobby Jackson and Rico Hines near one of the
baskets after a practice in which he has participated in team drills but not
live action. Multiple sources with knowledge of Harden’s two practice
sessions say he has been an engaged and positive participant. Morey, who has
made it so clear that he won’t fulfill Harden’s trade request to the
Clippers unless his asking price is met, went on his way in seemingly good
spirits as well.



All of which begged the question of why.

這些都引來了諸多的疑問。

Why has Harden, who famously called Morey a “liar” in August and swore that
he’d “never be part of an organization that he’s a part of,” chosen to
show up to work and conduct himself in the kind of professional manner that
so few saw coming?

為何在八月公開宣稱莫雷是個「騙子」、並矢言「不會再和他在同一支球隊共事」的哈登
，會決定現身訓練營，並在出乎眾人意料之外的情況下，以其專業的態度行事？

The most obvious answer, of course, is money.

很顯然的，最明確的答案是「錢」。

By taking part, Harden is avoiding the sort of financial fate that Ben
Simmons experienced when he lost approximately $20 million during his
standoff with the Sixers during the 2021-22 season. But beyond the money
matters, league sources say Harden also is taking part because he remains
hopeful that a trade to the Clippers is still in the works and believes, for
now, that it would be wise to not be a distraction. And the Clippers, league
sources say, are going to great lengths to make it happen.



League sources say the Clippers have been talking to several teams about ways
to move pick swaps for additional draft capital with the intention of
bolstering their offer and getting a deal done.

聯盟消息人士說，快艇已經和一些球隊討論使用選秀互換權來獲取更多選秀資本的方式，
目的是提高報價並完成交易。

The Clippers offered the Sixers an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap
and salaries for Harden in July, league sources say, but Philadelphia has set
a much higher threshold. The Sixers have valued fifth-year forward Terance
Mann and multiple first-round picks in a potential trade with the Clippers,
sources added. Mann, who averaged 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds a season ago,
has become a prospect of interest for teams over the past couple years.



If the Clippers are able to add to their offer in the kind of meaningful way
that the two teams have previously discussed, then the next phase in this
Harden saga will unfold from there and the ball, so to speak, would be in
Morey’s court. But for now, with Sixers camp concluding on Friday and a
preseason game in Boston on Sunday, it appears likely that Harden’s
participation will continue.



For a team that has maintained its messaging about championship aspirations,
with first-year coach Nick Nurse holding camp in Colorado as a reminder to
his players that the title runs through the defending champion Denver
Nuggets, the unresolved Harden situation is clearly a massive obstacle to
that goal. And while sources say Harden remains as strong as ever in his
stance — he wants his Sixers career to end and to play for his hometown
Clippers — it has come as a surprise to many that these first two days have
been so void of drama. What’s more, he came into camp in shape after surely
hearing a summer’s worth of social media snark from fans and media members
alike about how he would likely be overweight.



“It’s been good,” Sixers big man and reigning MVP Joel Embiid said after
practice when asked about Harden’s return. “He’s been doing a little bit.
Of course, he hasn’t played (in the live action), but the energy has been
great. He’s been around, and I think he’s great for us. Coming in, and not
being a distraction — not that it was going to distract us anyways, because
we’ve been so focused.

上賽季最有價值球員得主鉛筆在練習結束後，就哈登的回歸表示：



“I think this group is a little different than a couple years ago, when we
had the situation (with Simmons). With a new coaching staff and everything
that’s going on, it’s been easy. I don’t think anybody has been distracted
(by) what has been going on.”

「相比起數年以前與西門的狀況，如今來得有點不同。有了新的教練團、目前也進行順暢
  ，一切都還好。我不認為會有人會因為現時的狀況，而被分散注意力。」

Embiid was then asked if he expected Harden to remain with the team, in
essence, in the days and weeks ahead.

鉛筆之後被問到，他是否會預期哈登會在未來一段時間內，繼續留在隊中？

“Uh, I don’t know,” he continued. “He’s here. He’s practicing with us,
and, you know, that’s all we know. But like I said, we’re not focused on
that. We’re just trying to focus on getting the offense together, and the
defense together, figuring out how to play together.”

他繼續說：

「呃，我不知道。他在這裡，也和我們一起練習，這就是我們目前所知的。但如同我所說
  ，我們的重點不是這個。我們僅在嘗試集中精力把進攻與防守結合起來。」

While Harden did not take part in the team dinner on Tuesday night, when the
Sixers traveled to nearby Boulder to meet with Colorado football coach Deion
Sanders, he is staying at the team hotel. And as veteran guard Danny Green
detailed, the on-court component has been perceived as positive by his
teammates.



“I want to commend guys like Pat (Beverley), PJ (Tucker), and James as well,
” Green told The Athletic. “With as long as these guys have been in the
league, and with their tenure, they’re all professionals. James, at the end
of the day, is a professional. And people may not look at him (this) way, but
he’s a winner. Since he’s come into the league, he’s probably in the top
five or 10 for most wins since he’s been in this league. Maybe not playoffs
and championships, but he wins and he comes to work and works on his body,
and you can see it. … He takes his body serious. He takes his game serious.
And he’s just not one of those guys who’s going to come in and be a
distraction.”

Green 向《運動家》說：



Yet as is the case with everyone inside the Sixers organization, Green is
well aware that there’s a level of unpredictability with Harden that will
likely be there until his wish is granted.

然而，就像七六人隊內部的每個人一樣，Green 也很清楚，哈登身上存在著某種程度的不
可預測性，在他的願望實現之前，這種不可預測性很可能會一直存在。

"Ultimately, playing against him for so many years, and playing with him for
a short amount of time and knowing James, I don’t see him not playing," Green
said. “There is a little unknowing of (what he’ll do next). He’s upset, but
I think he’s trying to separate the two. You can be upset there, but be
family here, and be great with his teammates, with his brothers, and be a part
of something that he knows can make something happen and be special.”




短評：

肥皂劇終於落幕了，還是還有好戲在後頭？

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※ 作者: laptic 2023-10-06 07:08:41
※ 文章代碼(AID): #1b7q7xNa (NBA)
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