Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
Yes, maybe trading him to someplace he doesn't want to go will damage your return. In that case, you wouldn't trade him to one of those places, if the return is better from a team that he wants to go to.
The point of asking all 29 other teams to submit their best offers is to take back control of the process. To not let James Harden dictate this process.
Might he end up going to one of his preferred destinations anyways? Yes, if they are the ones who submit the best offer.
But to basically take the approach of needing his approval before you even pursue a trading partner? That is ridiculous. You can't be allowing him to control the process like that.
Giving him that control eliminates any chance at all of obtaining the best possible trade for him, because it eliminates all but a few teams. It also sets a very bad precedent for any player in the future who has thoughts of trying to manipulate you or coerce you.
There's nothing anyone can do to take control away from Harden. He's James Harden. That's it. No team is going to short themselves to make a point.