Harden in handcuffs for illegal possession of weapons

These are difficult days for James Harden, it’s a bad time. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard, 36 years old, 11-time All Star, fresh from the “coat”, from the 0-4 suffered in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference final against the Knicks, thanks to his disappointing performances, was arrested at dawn in Texas for illegal possession of weapons. Local authorities found a gun in plain sight in his vehicle, it was not holstered. Harden was later released on bail, with a hearing in his case scheduled for June 22. The NBA has a strict corporate policy regarding the use of weapons associated with its players, the ad hoc sanctions could arrive regardless of any judicial measures against Barba.

deeds and misdeeds

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The arrest was made – the reconstruction is by TMZ, the American tabloid TV – in Texas, specifically in Houston where the former Rockets guard played from 2012 to 2021. At 3.41 in the morning on Saturday 13 June, to be precise. According to county documents, officers noticed a gun inside the car owned by the Los Angeles native champion. Illegal weapons charges are a misdemeanor. In Texas, a gun can be transported in a vehicle if legally owned, but it must be kept in a holster, not exposed to anyone’s view. Harden posted $100 bail and was released. Barba has often made the news for his lively nightlife and his frequent visits to assorted strip clubs, but he has a clean criminal record. We will see if this episode, at least a damage to our image, will have repercussions at the level of contract negotiations. He has a 42 million renewal option with Cleveland that can be exercised by June 29, but “only” 13.3 million is guaranteed. The general expectation is that he will not make use of the annual renewal option, but rather sign a multi-year two-three year renewal with the Cavs who signed him via trade in February, coming from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden’s 2026 playoffs had more shadows than lights in terms of efficiency, but he finished them averaging 19.2 points and 5.5 assists. The Cavs defeated first Toronto and then Detroit in Game 7 before being swept away by the New York Knicks.

the previous morant

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Ja Morant, 26, the controversial director of the Memphis Grizzlies, was suspended for 33 games by the NBA for conduct harmful to the image of the league, for behavior related to the public display of weapons. On March 4, 2023, after a match lost to Denver, during a live video stream from a nightclub, while intoxicated, he showed a gun. The misdeed initially cost him an 8-match ban. But Morant later turned out to be a repeat offender. On May 31, 2023, during a live broadcast on a friend’s Instagram profile, he again showed a weapon. The NBA had punished him with a further 25 games of suspension, to be served at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Commissioner Adam Silver had specified that he wanted to punish behavior potentially capable of generating an emulation effect. The ban without pay had cost Morant, at the time, 7.6 million dollars.