According to Shams, the James Harden deal was hammered out after Josh Harris and Steve Balmer got on a call together:

I like the haul the Sixers got. I don’t love Josh Harris meddling in trade talks. Owners care about making money and silencing bad press. That’s before you even dive into the phone call with Balmer. Because I know if I was on the phone with this guy for more than 30 seconds, I’d give him anything he wanted just so I could hang up as fast as possible:

Do you know the irreparable damage someone like him could do to the ear drum? There’s only so many times you can hear a guy describe KJ Martin and RoCo like this before you go insane:

Maybe Terrence Mann was actually on the table. Maybe there was another unprotected first Daryl thinks he could’ve gotten if they just held out a little longer. Who knows? I’m sure Balmer is dancing in his office like Windows 95 just launched again:

P.S. Great job by Shams inserting himself into the James Harden situation. He totally got pantsed by Woj,so what does he do? He begs someone in the Sixers org to give him any tiny morsel of information that will be interesting. For all we know, the deal was at the goal line and owner approval is what was holding it up. Maybe less time with Kay Adams and more time working the phones, Shams. Remember women weaken legs: