James Harden has stuck to his word and has not showed up for the NBA Media Day. Harden has constantly criticized the Sixers and Daryl Morey of being a liar. Harden also stated his desire to leave Philly on multiple occasions in the offseason. Today is the day players are expected to show up at the training camp and complete their pre-season media duties.

James Harden not showing up wasn’t a huge surprise as he has stirred up many controversies in the past to force a trade. But this season, Harden could be handed a stern monetary punishment for his antics.

James Harden AWOL on Media Day

It isn’t a surprise that Harden didn’t show up. After all, he made his displeasure quite evident in the offseason. Last season, Harden signed a two-year contract worth $68 million dollars. Harden signed the deal on a heavy discount as that would allow the Sixers to acquire core players to compete for the title. It was understood that Morey would offer better terms for this offseason, but he backed out after Hardens’ dismal showings versus the Celtics in the playoffs. This led Harden to call Daryl Morey a “liar” and he also said that he would never play for Daryl Morey.

But this season the NBA will punish players who don’t show up for training camps and look to force a move away. If a player withholds his service for more than thirty days, then he would be ineligible for the veteran minimum contract until his previous employers agree to the new deal. They could also fine Harden for almost $389,083 dollars if he misses exhibition or regular season games for the Sixers. The Sixers have all the leverage over James Harden and, unlike previous instances, Daryl Morey won’t give in to Harden’s demand, as he looks to hold out for the best deal possible.

NBA Cracking down on Dissent

The NBA has decided to crack down on player dissent after a decade of player empowerment. Player empowerment would have been a noble idea if players like James Harden and Ben Simmons didn’t abuse it. But the truth of the matter is that player empowerment has gone too far, and the NBA has decided to enforce certain rules to balance the scales.

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With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in full effect. The league can fine any player who publicly expresses his desire to be traded. A fine worth $10,000 dollars was levied on Harden for the same reason. The fines could go as high as $150,000 dollars. Will the new rules deter players from forcing a trade? Let us know in the comments below!

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