James Harden has long been considered a virtual lock to opt out of his $35.6MM salary for next season, but has yet to finalize a decision with Thursday’s player option deadline looming. Noting that Harden doesn’t have to take any formal action or make an announcement if he intends to decline his option, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (YouTube link) appeared on SportsCenter on Wednesday to discuss where things stand with the Sixers guard.
“I think for James Harden, he’ll take it down to the wire over the next 24 hours,” Wojnarowski said (hat tip to RealGM). “If you’re James Harden and you get into free agency, you want to know that you’re going to get a quick resolution with the Sixers. Because the longer it drags out, money dries up elsewhere, you lose leverage.”
While opting in would assure Harden of $35MM+ in guaranteed money for 2023/24, he wouldn’t be eligible to sign an extension prior to free agency in 2024 and he’d immediately become trade-eligible, so it would be a risky path to take. Wojnarowski believes Harden’s preference would be to lock in a multiyear guarantee.
“I think for Philadelphia, the real hang-up, the real challenge is going to be how many years on a deal?” Wojnarowski said. “I think getting near-max money… I don’t think it’s going to be the dollars per season. It’s going to be how many years do they want to invest in James Harden.”
While the Rockets have been cited for months as a potential suitor for Harden, Houston has seemingly pivoted to other free agent targets. As Ben DuBose of RocketsWire relays, Kelly Iko of The Athletic said during a Twitter live stream on Wednesday that he thinks the Rockets may be “out of the running” for the 10-time All-Star. Marc Stein reported on Wednesday that he has heard rumblings about Harden getting a two- or three-year deal from Philadelphia.
Harden will turn 34 before the start of next season, which is making teams reluctant to commit to a pricey long-term contract. Long considered one of the NBA’s most durable players, he has dealt with a handful of injury issues in recent years, missing 24 games last season.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
It’s slightly amazing, looking at his stats from last year, that he’s not worth what he’s asking, considering guys like FVV are probably going to get the same amount. Even though he’s older, doesn’t play D and has a super spotty playoff track record, this dude is still better than 75% of NBA players out there right now. this guy can get you to the playoffs, so why not have him around?
The problem is fan perception and how that affects revenue for teams, imo. Bringing Harden back on a big deal that doesn’t leave much room for other moves would probably be seen by fans as “more of the same, this already didn’t work twice”. Combine that with his known injury problems (magnified by coming back early in the 2021 playoffs from that hamstring injury) and his inclining age, and it’s kind of a risky deal. Plus his bad defense really exacerbates an already present problem for this team.
It’s just that the Sixers are kind of pigeonholed into re-signing him by their cap situation and lack of easy trade assets. Aside from Maxey and Harris’ expiring deal, who can they really trade? Maybe Melton’s expiring? But then, will they get back anywhere near the present value of those players? It’s not likely. Especially not in Maxey’s case. Guys who have near 50/40/90 efficiency don’t grown on trees.
Fan perception – bingo
James Harden is continuing to rapidly see his skills decline. His “stats” are not an indication of the player he currently is, or will be in years 2, 3 and 4 of the contract. Signing Harden effectively ends any shot that Joel Embiid had at winning a title in a Philly jersey.
How is the hangup not dollars per season? Sixers need to be mindful of the tax apron. Harden is clearly not enough to get over the hump. They need more. I think we see a 2+1. I don’t think they’ll guarantee the final year.
I don’t think it’s money because they have to sign Maxey to a near-max deal if they want to keep him. And they kind of have to sign him now. So they’re probably going to be over the tax no matter what they do.
Sixers will just match whatever offer Maxey gets. That’s the smartest play. Let the market dictate. Would be an instant match, but smart thing is to let the market do it’s thing.
They only have 66M so far guaranteed for 24-25. Add in say 30M for Maxey. 96M. Depending on what they do this year with Harden, Reed, Niang, Shake, and McDaniels they would have a max slot open.
There are a few FAs that make no sense for them or will get extended prior, but the ones that could be available and not all of them are Max Level guys but it’s a decent pool of FAs:
Klay, Tobias, Harden, Siakam, Tingus, DeRoazan, Buddy Hield, Trent Jr, Dejounte Murray.
Jaylen Brown is technically available, but he’ll be supermaxed.
But that being said, I think if they can get Harden to take less money, they would have a shot at bringing in 1 more decent player – probably guys below the level I mentioned above. If Harden opts-in, then you have a lot of choices.
I generally don’t listen to Colin Cowherd, but it was a long drive…. but he was talking about a correlation between NBA champions and the age of their Top-2 players. Except for 1 or 2 year’s it’s been 1 in their 30s and 1 in their 20s. Not 2 in their 30s.
Sixers have the makings of the model if Maxey takes a SGA type leap forward in 24-25 and beyond.
Embiid is 29 this year, so if you believe in correlations equaling causation, then Harden fits the bill still as the 2nd best player.
You’re a fool if you this man more than 25 mill. Moreyon seems like only fool out there. How can he turn down 35.6 mill. Play better and then you might get a 3 yr deal somewhere,
I’m Philly I let him walk and sign VanVleet
FVV isn’t anywhere near the offensive player that Harden is and isn’t any better at defense.
He’s also not any better in the postseason; he played like hot garbage against the Celtics in the 2020 ESCF and against the Sixers in 2022 in the first round. Even in the play-in this year he missed half his free throws and shot 38% from the field, even though he had a good game stats-wise. Harden averages 22/6/7 in the postseason per 36 minutes. FVV averages 14/3/4 per 36 minutes on worse efficiency. Even if you only include series where he was a starter, he’s way worse. Harden can choke, but FVV isn’t better.
Harden is overpaid, you’re absolutely right. But FVV is a paper tiger. He’s not nearly as good as he looks once you dig a bit.
…okay, the math on Harden’s ppg is slightly off (it’s really 21), but that’s still far superior to FVV. Whoops.
They can’t just sign FVV. It would be, let Harden walk, and S&T FVV for Tobias Harris? So lose 2 quality players and get back one? I don’t see how that helps them.
Harden led the league in assists, shot .385 from deep and scored 21ppg. In today’s NBA he’s easily worth far more than $25 million a season on production alone without taking into account his name recognition.
Any chance he opts in?
I’d say he either opts in, or declines and hits free agency. Only two realistic options I can see.
There’s always retirement?
Are you saying he won’t be participating in Wimbledon???
Morey will pay him. Why? Because they had a wink wink agreement all along.
The best move for Philly is to give him a 1 year max contract. You can’t sign anyone this year anyways, so give him the money and keep your future open
If the Mavs wanted to do a double S&T Kyrie for Harden, I’d do that. From a pure talent and age standpoint, Kyrie > Harden.
Or maybe something involving the Lakers – DLo for Harden. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to pay DL0 a lot, so maybe some type of descending contract to make it work.
James Harden for PG via sign and trade
Maxey PG Embiid
From there wouldn’t mind us trading Tobis or Tucker.