76ers Won’t Get James Harden Back on a Discount This Time Around
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From the start of the 2022-2023 season up until the final weeks of the playoff run, Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden often referred to this past season as his own season of sacrifice.
After Harden declined his player option for the season, which came along with his previously signed contract during his Houston Rockets stint, Harden decided not to ink a long-term deal and took a one-year contract that had another option attached.
In total, Harden could make $68.6 million with the Sixers if he picks up the second-year option on the deal he signed last summer. Had he remained on the original contract, Harden would’ve made about $14.5 million more. However, the season of sacrifice required taking a discount, so the Sixers had enough space to make other key additional signings.
If Harden picks up his player option with the Sixers for the 2023-2024 season, he could make $35.6 million. However, the expectation is that Harden will decline the option, hit the free agency market, and seek a long-term deal to cash in after his season of sacrifice.
There is still plenty of time for the free agency market to form, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that there is “an appetite” around the NBA for Harden to land a four-year contract that could be worth more than $200 million.
Therefore, if the Sixers want to keep the Joel Embiid-James Harden combo together, Philly would be unlikely to get Harden at any discounted rate this time around, especially since the Sixers won’t be bidding against themselves.
Since December, talks of a potential reunion between the Houston Rockets and James Harden have hit the rumor mill. While the rumors quickly paused after Harden publicly shot down the report, they eventually returned on multiple occasions throughout the season.
At this point, the Rockets are still considered suitors, and NBA executives seem to believe they are the favorites to land Harden in the offseason at this time.
Whether the Sixers will bail out on bringing Harden back or not, depending on his market value, is unclear. Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey mentioned that bringing Harden back to Philadelphia will be “Plan A” in the offseason.
While Morey and the Sixers could be hesitant to offer Harden a multi-year deal in the ballpark of the reported $200 million that’s been tossed out there, nothing should be ruled out right now.
