James Harden Trade Rumors: Clippers 'Reluctant' to Deal Terance Mann in 76ers Talks

The James Harden showdown rumbles on.

According to a report from Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice, the Los Angeles Clippers remain uninterested in parting ways with role player Terance Mann in a potential package to acquire the Philadelphia 76ers point guard:

"Harden has had a Clippers or bust mentality this summer, and with Harden making clear he wants to play for the L.A. Clippers this upcoming season, there has been hesitation for anyone to offer up what the Sixers feel is proper value. That applies to the Clippers, too, who are said to be reluctant to part with role player Terance Mann as part of a broader package for Harden."

It's not the first time reports have indicated the Clippers don't want to part with Mann:

It's another indication that the Sixers, Clippers and Harden are locked in a battle of leverage.

The Sixers' leverage is pretty simple: They don't have to trade Harden. They don't have to accept an offer they don't like.

The team's president of basketball operations Daryl Morey already showed a stomach for a lengthy holdout and the awkwardness it creates when Ben Simmons' held out into the season before he was eventually dealt for Harden.

But both the Clippers and Harden are banking on the Sixers eventually playing ball for a number of reasons.

For one, allowing this situation to extend into the season is hardly ideal. It has the potential to upset superstar Joel Embiid, impacting one of his prime seasons and souring him on the organization. The Sixers can't afford to punt on an entire season during the defending MVP's prime years.

But Harden will also be a free agent after the 2023-24 season. Whereas Simmons was early into a long-term extension, Harden can walk for nothing next summer.

Granted, the Sixers might counter that they'll happily take both Tobias Harris and Harden coming off their books in a year, freeing up major cap space next summer when players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Pascal Siakam, Jrue Holiday and OG Anunoby could all hit free agency.

Granted, there are no guarantees that any of those players will become available, or that any would sign in Philly. And again, the Sixers risk annoying Embiid by not maximizing his title chances this season.

But the Sixers might be hoping that another superstar point guard looking for a change of scenery, Damian Lillard, will reconsider pairing with Embiid this season. To this point, Lillard has seemingly been "Miami Heat or bust" in his trade request, similar to Harden's reported tunnel vision for the Clippers.

But Lillard extending his list of possible destinations could free up the Sixers to pursue him, and Harden could be used as an avenue to gain additional assets the Blazers would be seeking. For Morey and the Sixers, waiting on that possibility is a risk, but one that could have major upside.

So if the Clippers aren't even willing to include Mann in trade talks, the Sixers have little incentive at the moment to engage in those talks. There might be a point when the organization loses its stomach for a protracted stand-off with Harden and the Clippers, but that likely would be pretty far down the road.