Another day, another James Harden-76ers saga news. The team denied him the right to board the flight to Milwaukee for a national fixture against the Bucks. That indicated that the team doesn’t need last season’s assists per game leader anymore. However, the NBA took exception to this news and is investigating this matter.

Their new Player Participation Policy (PPP) aims to ensure that superstars are available for the most part. During national TV games, each all-star member must be present or you pay a fine of $250,000. During non-national TV games, if the team is resting more than one All-Star player, then the fine is 100,000.

And after James Harden is listed out against the tussle against the Trail Blazers, Joel Embiid’s status is “questionable”.

Are the 76ers going to rest Joel Embiid?

It seems like the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to chart into the $100,000 fine category. That is the extent of their vengeance against James Harden. They have listed the reigning MVP Embiid as questionable and the reason is listed as “rest”. If the Center indeed misses out on the game, then this is arguably a clear-cut case of the violation of PPP norms. 

Embiid had a monster night of 34 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in the last game versus the Raptors. The current fixture against the Trail Blazers is a back-to-back affair. After putting up such immense work, the 76ers would want to relax Embiid’s body. The Trail Blazers are a rebuilding team and Philly stands a big chance to win even if the current MVP sits out.

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However, if that happens then the 76ers will have to pay a big fee. However, considering their current actions, they may be willing to do so. How are they going to explain Harden’s absence during the season opener?

NBA has to be worried about the situation

It is a shocker that the 2018 MVP, three-time scoring champions, and one of the assists leaders isn’t playing despite being healthy. Such is the extent of the gulf between the guard and the franchise. To address this alarming situation, the league must be devising ways to 

Perhaps patch this up. However, a lot is now under the control of the Philly franchise. This is a strange situation because the market is dry for James Harden.

With as many as six national TV fixtures this year, if the situation doesn’t resolve soon, the 76ers can lose a ton of money. But it seems like now they want to punish the multiple-times MVP as long as possible.

Watch This Story: Staring Down the Barrel of $1.5 Million Blow, James Harden’s “Unexcused Absence” Is “Only the Beginning” in 76ers Drama, per Veteran Analyst