Sixers guard James Harden has a $35.64MM player option for 2023/24, which means he could be an unrestricted free agent this summer if he doesn’t exercise it. How far Philadelphia advances in the playoffs could end up determining whether or not he stays with the team or returns to the Rockets, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on his podcast (hat tip to RealGM).
“James Harden’s future is very unclear in Philadelphia,” Wojnarowski said. “Houston is very much in play for him. And I think a lot may depend on [whether the Sixers] make a run and win and it’s easy to pay him long-term big money, or he just wants to be back in Houston. Win or lose he goes, or it’s dependent on the team’s success.”
Wojnarowski first reported in late December that Harden and his camp were seriously mulling a free agency return to Houston, where he won an MVP in 2017/18 and earned eight of his 10 All-Star appearances. Another report from March 1 indicated that the Rockets planned to aggressively pursue the 33-year-old, who led the league in assists per game this season (10.7).
Harden’s departure is far from a foregone conclusion. He has spoken multiple times about his desire to win a championship, and the Sixers certainly give him a better opportunity for that than the rebuilding Rockets.
Still, if the Sixers lose a possible second-round matchup with the Celtics, there’s a widespread belief that significant changes could be coming to Philadelphia in the offseason, according to Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
I’d be very shocked if Harden didn’t exercise that option.
Being traded by Philly is 100% a possibility, but what is the return on a $35M James Harden for 1 season?
Likely to not be very earth shattering.
I’d probably keep him if I was Philly, atleast through next season, or the deadline.
He’s definitely opting out ! Rockets being interested means he can at least pit two bidders against each other to ensure he gets more money long term and possibly short term
He didn’t have a season that would earn him $35M though…
So, he would be losing money to sign a new, lesser paying, and possibly longer termed contract.
No way he gives up the $35M in that player option. It would be unintelligent for a guy that has maybe 1, or 2 contracts left in his career.
And completely out of the ordinary, and in opposition to the norm for a player at his age and athletic declination.
While Harden’s not the scorer he once was he’s still one of the best point guards in the game. He could easily get a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of 3/$100 million. Not sure why he’d want to go back to Houston though, the Rockets are 2 seasons away from being 2 seasons away from even being considered a contender.
His whole life is in Houston. All his business ventures, friends and family are all there now instead of Cali. I know it’s a lame excuse but some players are wired that way
Not lame at all, especially from the business venture aspect. I hope he ends up back in Houston.
One of the best point guards in the game on one side of the ball.
That’s the side point guards are rated on
opting out
I am 100% sure due to his age.
Stay
90%: If win the East
60%: Harden will stay if beating Celtics
0% if beating by Celtics
Absolutely correct Noel1982. Dude just led the league in assists and averaged 21pts on a playoff team. Opt out and keep saying you wanna go to Houston so other teams have to change your mind $$$
On the open market, Harden would get more money. I can’t imagine he will exercise the option. It makes no sense for him to. People say he’s declining, but he still put up 21.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, and 10.7 apg on .441/.385/.867 shooting. $35 million on essentially a one year deal or unrestricted free agency? The choice for Harden is a no-brainer.
They’re saying he is declining because he is.
In another couple of years, he is gonna be washed. And that’s not hate, it’s truth.
I’m not seeing that kind of money being there for Harden.
If this is the case, then Philly has to sign him to a 3 year deal, and trade him summer of 2024 to not get burned, and possibly extract some value.
Harden is a hamstring away from missing an entire season, or worse… The playoffs.
I’d offer 4 years 20-22 million, and I’d go no higher for Harden.
The guy who Said he can get at least 100 million over the next 3 years is definitely right ! I think he can get about 150 over the next four years! Compared to one year 35 million and then free agency after an another possible year of declining production ! He’s definitely opting out to most likely stay with sixers
If Harden is a Sixer he opts in, if he chases a title he opts out, or attempts a sign a trade negotiation.
The Rockets offering Harden north of $35M is a stretch in my opinion, but we’ll see.
3 years $75-$90M is my guess for Harden on the high side.
There isn’t a lot of cap, and Harden isn’t getting 40 million dollar contracts anymore.
“I’d offer 4 years 20-22 million, and I’d go no higher for Harden.”
Then he signs elsewhere. RJ Barrett makes more than that. Harden is still a great player. His option is $35 million. You’re basically offering him an additional three years at $15 million a year. Not enough.
Even if that the min he gets his value as a free agent will be even lower next year since he doesn’t exactly take care of himself like a lebron or even cp3 ! 4 years for 90. Is still a lot more then one year 35 million then free agency though I will say there is new tv money kicking in some next year so who knows
If he opts out of $35M which is 1 or 2 money for a 4 or 5 guy.
If I am another franchise my offering to Harden on the open Market for a 4 year commitment would be.
Counting the $35M, I bet he can clear $75-$90 for 2024,25,26. On the high side.
Yes, he may go elsewhere, but philly is going nowhere also. Might as well stay, make $$$
RJ Barrett would still be a good player at the end of the 4th year. Harden turns 34 this summer.
Not being argumenative, genuinely curious. You really see Harden being worth 40M a year at 38 years old? He’ll be lucky to be in the league.
He wouldn’t have to carry the load in Houston like he did before. They have Jalen Green, Jabari, and probably VW or Scoot. That team has good bones, just need a strong coach who can develop these guys.
As a sixers fan I don’t care either way what he does but save this for the off season. The news isn’t new and they have been talking about it all year.
Elton Brand better get his act together because as Harden opens the door to leave Embiid is going to see that green grass across the street. Maxey isn’t a lock for the 1/2 like Harden is, so this team better be ready to hit free agency hard for a replacement.
Philly is safe as long as Embid is under contract.
No team in the league wants the injury restriction, and accompanied salary currently.
Harden forced his way out of Houston. Does he actually want to go back there? What would that accomplish? He’s not going to go there and win a championship in the length of time he has left as an well-above-average player. He’s not the same player as he was when he left there.
I certainly hope Houston doesn’t go this route. There is no way in a year or two that Harden can take this young team deep in the playoffs. One big-name player doesn’t make that happen. They need to stay the course and continue developing the nice young players they have, with the new coach. Maybe in a year or two, if somebody really good out there is available, swing a trade. Harden is not the player for this franchise anymore, not on the timeline they are on.
Maybe he just wants to make millions of dollars and live in Houston?
I think you’re right about the money part, if he opts out after the season he’s had he can get a pretty good 3 or even 4 year deal. If he opts in he’ll be another year older and teams might be more reluctant to over him the big coin.
Seems like he’s looking for his last big contract. The Houston stuff is just for Harden to ask for a better contract. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is on neither 76ers or the rockets next year and he’s followed the money elsewhere. He’s still a top player and someone will pay big.
If changes are made if Philly does not make it beyond second round or even to it, could that mean even Doc Rivers could be gone and maybe head to Houston. If even after playoffs and Nurse left Toronto and came here what could Houston get. I am not keen on Harden returning. Granted he is older and his skills not what were I might take help to perhaps get us to being one of the possible play in teams or such.
Harden definitely intends (and has intended since signing the contract) to decline the option, and sign a new multi-year deal. The option was insurance for a doomsday scenario.
I’m sure PHI was and remains his first choice for his new deal, and I think they’ll want to resign him. But after the last few years, more than with a pure max guy, price (years and $$) is firmly in play. It’s his agents’ job to be able to (if needed) establish a market price (real or notional) for him. A stalking horse is a good (lazy man’s) way of beginning that process. It’s too early to find a real one. But, where things stand, HOU is a real good starter choice (unlimited cap space, team and city history with the player, need for veteran presence, etc., nobody thinks they’re too smart to do it, and they have no real reason to deny it at least for awhile).
This is the soundest take, but there still is the question of why it’s been making headlines since the trade deadline. Feels like overkill, but I’m not an agent (I just play one on television).
Definitely feels like overkill, at least until PHI is eliminated. Agents don’t embarrass easy, though.
Why would Houston go down that road again?
for his leadership. He’s just what a young team needs. Once he retires, make him GM, or President of Bball ops if one of TFs kids has the GM job
I mean, are we sure Houston is interested in Harden? Why would a rebuilding/ascending team whose average age is like 24 want a fat 35 year old malcontent who burned bridges on the way out the last time he was here? If I’m Houston I’m not even considering considering this.
They don’t control their next few draft picks without picking top 3 ! They are gonna star trying to win ! Whether they should or can is up for debate but thunder have control over the next 3 drafts for thunder with very little lotto protection
You are right, but Houston controls the Nets’ drafts.
He is not fat. Just old-legged.
No! Haven’t the Rockets learned from the 1st go around?
Who cares
Harden is washed. It’s clear to me. He can still play and will be 34. He’s a rotation guy now. Why would you put this baggage. Around
20-21 yr old future ballers. Unless he does it for 18- 20 mill a yr. Stay away …..
I know all bad teams want the First pick. But I’m telling you. Scoot on this Rockets team. Is a huge win. He is the next big time PG.
In what world is a 34 year Harden and a super young team that was in play to be the worst team in the league this season gonna be a winner next year?
Don’t blame him. 0 expectations & Pressure , Also 0 state tax. That’s a win for me!
3/80 seems fair if he opts out and wants to stay for the best of embiid prime years
You’re not winning a title with Joel…
or Doc.
Especially Doc.
I guess the Rockets are really putting thought into tanking under the new CBA…
They’ll have to overpay someone in order to have a bad team and still go over the floor so the boss can get their checks from the tax payers…
I have never understood why the Rockets would more Harden back in the fold. Not because the way he left, more so that they’re building a young team and Harden does not fit the timeline. If the Rockets want veterans to help the young kids, there are way cheaper options that won’t want the ball in their hands as frequently as James like Thad Young, D Rose or Harrison Barnes.
Unless James is willing to take a huge discount and agrees to be part of the rotation instead of a ball dominant roll, the Rockets should walk away.