Returning to 76ers Isn’t Far Fetched for James Harden
When the Philadelphia 76ers wrapped up their Game 7 loss against the Boston Celtics last Sunday, many believed that would be the final time James Harden would don a Sixers uniform.
As many assumed Harden would decline his player option for next season and become a free agent, all signs were pointing towards a reunion with the Houston Rockets.
Since Christmas Day, Harden was getting linked back to the Rockets. As rumors spread like wildfire throughout the year, it seemed like it was just a matter of time before Harden and the Rockets connected once again.
When the Sixers came up short of their goals of getting beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals and making a run for the 2023 NBA Finals, fans and analysts were further convinced that Harden was good as gone in Philadelphia.
However, Houston’s current roster situation doesn’t offer Harden better odds of accomplishing his ultimate goal of winning a title. And with the way the 2023 NBA Lottery played out, the situation certainly didn’t get much better.
Although the Rockets were typically projected to land the first or second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, they ended up with the fourth pick. Therefore, the top two prospects, Victor Wembanyama, and Scoot Henderson, are more than likely out of the equation for Houston.
Beyond the Rockets’ unfortunate drawing results on lottery night, the Sixers also made the decision to part ways with their head coach Doc Rivers two years early. Earlier this week, reports indicated that Harden was unlikely to return to play for the Sixers if Rivers was still in charge.
The fact that Harden didn’t have much to say about the coach, who was on the hot seat after Game 7, confirmed that he wasn’t necessarily thrilled with Rivers after spending the last season and a half with him.
Two days after the Sixers dropped Game 7, Philadelphia’s President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced the team was parting ways with Rivers. The following day, a report from ESPN mentioned that league sources are now cautioning that Harden’s “much-rumored interest” in a return to Houston may not be such a “shoo-in” with Rivers out of the picture in Philadelphia.
Regardless of whether or not Harden intends to remain with the Sixers, it’s become clear that he won’t accept his player option. After re-signing with the Sixers last summer, Harden took a pay cut to free up space. He played the 2022-2023 season on a $33 million salary. He could opt-in to make $35.6 million with the Sixers for the 2023-2024 season.
According to a report from Bleacher Report, Harden intends to decline the option and hit free agency. With that set to happen, the Sixers plan to do what they can to get Harden back.
“We can’t have those discussions yet, but we are interested in bringing him back,” Sixers’ President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said on Wednesday regarding Harden.
During his final media availability of the season, Harden made it clear that his next destination would have to present an opportunity to contend for a title. Considering the Rockets finished the season at 22-60, it would take a lot of roster changes to make them more attractive than the Sixers on paper.
If Houston believes that landing Harden in free agency is a real possibility, they’ll do what they can to cater to the star guard.
But the Sixers have been working on pleasing Harden for the past year. Not only did they bring in several players that spent time with Harden during his Rockets tenure, including PJ Tucker, Danuel House Jr., and Montrezl Harrell, but now they’ve gotten rid of the coach that he had just an “OK” relationship with.
Morey made it clear that the Sixers’ next hire wouldn’t come from the players’ suggestion, but he’s certainly keeping the core guys in mind for obvious reasons.
And considering Harden previously played for one of the six early candidates Philadelphia is taking a look at and has a tight relationship already with another, that could be an additional sign the Sixers are willing to do what it takes to get Harden back to Philly for a third season at the least.
The Rockets — or any other contending team searching for a star guard for that matter — shouldn’t be ruled out in the upcoming Harden sweepstakes. But as the offseason plays out for the Sixers, it’s becoming clear that returning to Philadelphia isn’t so far-fetched for Harden after all.
