Sixers guard James Harden is declining his $47,366,760 player option for the 2022/23 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. However, Harden intends to re-sign with Philadelphia on a new contract that gives the team some added cap flexibility to improve its roster in free agency, Charania adds.
Multiple reports leading up to Harden’s free agency indicated that he would likely pick up his player option and then sign a short-term extension (possibly two years) with the Sixers.
However, in recent days, there has been increasing chatter about Philadelphia using its full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which would create a hard cap. That would have been difficult with Harden on the books for $47MM+.
If Harden returns on a new multiyear deal that starts no higher than $38MM or so, it would give the 76ers the flexibility to use both their full mid-level and the bi-annual exception, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.
That would clear a path for Philadelphia to make its rumored three-year, $30MM offer to P.J. Tucker using the mid-level exception. Brian Windhorst of ESPN said during an appearance on NBA Today (video link) that the Sixers have been telling agents they’ll have the bi-annual exception available to use.
While Harden’s willingness to negotiate a new deal with a lower starting salary will benefit the Sixers in the short term, we’ll see what it means for the long term. The former MVP and the team may have reached an agreement to tack on an extra year or additional guaranteed money to his new deal in exchange for him turning down his option.
Harden, who was traded from Brooklyn to Philadelphia midway through the 2021/22 season, had a down year by his standards and was hampered by a hamstring injury. However, multiple sources tell Charania that the star guard has resumed his workout and on-court program much earlier than usual this offseason and has communicated to Sixers officials that he’s focused on winning a title next year.
Wow. Didn’t see that COMING. Always had harden as a cash first guy. Respect for wanting to build the team instead of your own pocket
HAHAHHAHA.
Yeah.
He prolly realizes this is his last shot to compete for a ring as a meaningful player
If it was me I would put cash first every time. Owners are the ones that wanted a salary cap in the first place.
Expected
See my post earlier
Help to sign Tucker
Start at $40 million
He will get far more guaranteed cash in an extension then if he played this one out and had a season similar to last season.
This IS a cash first move. Whatever he gives up next year, will be more than compensated for in the rest of the contract.
ya ppl don’t understand whatsoever I guess
@Goku
That’s only if you really think the Rockets wouldn’t have given him an extension even if he had opted in. So, he is getting more than the opt out anyway but it’ll likely be more guaranteed than the $47 mil but with a much lower average per annual thus more cap friendly. That’s basically what the Nets were hoping to do with Kyrie but with games played incentives.
Will it be 4 or 5 yr contract?? Harden would be stupid to sign for anything less.
If i’m Harden id sign a 3 year deal at 38mil per year. But then ask for a opt out after year 1 and 2. Should he return to form he can re-enter the market and sign for longer and bigger deal.
Tucker is 37 years old. Why would anyone give him a 3 year deal? No thanks.
Agreed!!
Signing Harden or Tucker will be a bad decision. I could stomach Harden at $25M a year but Tucker for 3 years is asinine.
Harden and Tucker won’t move the needle. Sixers are screwed. Should never have traded for Harden in the first place.
3/90 sounds ab right, descending would be best. Start at 38?
It’s the likely to remain with Sixers that ruins it for me.
Waste of money for Harden if he cuts his wage to sign Tucker, must be better uses for it… as a matter of fact can’t be a worse one, right?
if Harden had opted in and took a 1 year extension he probably would make close to what he will make with a 3 year extension. I think this is more about him helping the team win a championship than padding his wallet. if signing Tucker helps them win a Championship, they won’t care about the 3rd year of that contract. I still think 76ers need an athletic rebounding PF, but they are addressing their issues which is nice to see.