Sixers News: James Harden's MLS Team Wins U.S. Open Cup Final

James Harden was taking in some soccer on Wednesday night, less than a week before the Philadelphia 76ers meet for training camp out in Colorado.

With Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami squad set to take on Harden’s Houston Dynamo, the Sixers guard was in attendance rooting for the organization he took stock in back in 2019.

Becoming the face of the Houston Rockets as he dominated the NBA for nearly a decade, Harden established Houston as a home of his.

While he was still a member of the Rockets, Harden became a part owner of two soccer teams. In the men’s league, Harden bought into the Dynamo. In the women’s league, he joined the Dash’s ownership group.

Facing a Messi-less Miami squad, Harden saw his team come out victorious in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. Although Miami cut Houston’s early 2-0 lead to 2-1 in the final minutes of the matchup, Houston raised the trophy in the end.

Regardless, @JHarden13 still pumped 🤘 pic.twitter.com/KaWy6Sb6lY
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) September 28, 2023

Soon, the ten-time All-Star will begin the next phase of his playing path in the NBA. With training camp around the corner, the Sixers are hoping Harden is present with the new-look roster when October rolls around next week.

Right now, it’s unclear if Harden will show face. Back in July, the veteran guard picked up his player option for the 2023-2024 season despite having initial plans to hit the free agency market. With the Houston Rockets showing interest in other prospects and the Sixers avoiding another tampering situation, Harden didn’t want to risk taking less salary for next season by declining the option.

After picking it up days before free agency began, Harden requested a trade from the 76ers. Months went by without any real traction. The Sixers couldn’t find a trade partner outside of the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Western Conference contenders weren’t willing to meet Philadelphia’s asking price.

At this point, Harden hopes to be traded still. It’s unclear if the Sixers will manage to find a solution before training camp. At the moment, Harden seems in good spirits as he celebrates the Dynamo’s cup win this week. Eventually, we’ll see if he’s still unwilling to play for Philadelphia.