Asked during his introductory press conference this week about how he’d pitch James Harden on coming back to Philadelphia and playing for him next season, new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told reporters that “winning has to be the sell,” according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“‘Can we be good enough to win it all?’ That’s got to be a goal of his,” Nurse said. “And if it is, then he should stay here and play for us, because I think there’s a possibility of that.”
According to Nurse, he has already touched base with Harden and intends to meet with him – and every other player on the roster – in the not-too-distant future.
As Bontemps writes, Nurse also said that a combination of talent on the roster and stability at the ownership level made Philadelphia his top choice as a sought a new job following his exit from Toronto. Nurse was also said to be in the mix for the coaching vacancies in Milwaukee and Phoenix — both teams have undergone ownership changes in recent months.
Here’s more on the Sixers:
- Nurse said during this week’s press conference that his years of experience game-planning against Joel Embiid with the Raptors should come in handy as he attempts to get the most out of the reigning MVP going forward, per Rich Hofmann of The Athletic. “We threw everything, almost everything you could possibly throw at a guy,” Nurse said. “It was that hard for us to try to stop him. We threw a lot at him. So, at least I think that we can offensively say, ‘This is what we did, and here’s how we can beat it,’ and we’ve almost covered most things.”
- Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com has a few more quotes from Nurse’s presser, including the new Sixers coach stating that he won’t necessarily be looking to reuse the strategies and playing styles he utilized with the Raptors. “What we did in Toronto, it’s just trying to maximize what the roster looked like,” Nurse explained. “We really had to generate turnovers to get out and score, transition, and in 2018 it was a different roster. We did have (Marc) Gasol so we played a different style and a different defense, and it’s going to be whatever’s best for this team.”
- Following Danuel House‘s decision to pick up his player option for 2023/24, Neubeck wonders at PhillyVoice.com whether we should expect House to play a role similar to the limited one he had in ’22/23 or if Nurse will want to try to get more out of him.
Uh, Nick, in case you haven’t noticed…Harden seems to value cash a lot more than winning.
Strippers are his ultimate goal.
Why would you say that — he took less this year and hasn’t signed anywhere. You are basing of assumption.
Yeah, Harden values cash much more, that’s why he declined a 46.2M option last year, so he could sign a deal that paid him $32M last season, just about 1/3 )3@@, bc he wanted to win! If you can find me 1 other pro athlete who took 15M less than he could have been guaranteed in a season so that it helped the team sigm 2 more FAs, Id love to know who it is. What Harden did was unprecedented. He’ll be back with the 76ers, as will Joel & Maxey. Hopefully they can trade Tobias(very good player, but 39M is too crippling for the team, and limits their options in FA. I’d like to see a trade of Tobias, Korkmaz, PHI 2029 1st, & a pick swap in 2026/27 to TOR for OG Anunoby & Thaddeus Young. Resign Paul Reed, Jalen McDaniels, Possibly Niang/Shake also, depending on how things go.
Embiid, P.Reed, OG Anunoby, Harden & Maxey
(Backup C?)T.Young/PJ Tucker, D. House, Springer & Melton- Niang & ??? That’s an NBA championship team.
If Harden wants a max deal, the sixers would be wise to move on(maybe a S&T). Look at game 7 vs Boston, both Embiid and Harden QUIT.
Rockets are likely to offer Porter if SNT. They are not willing to offer the 4th pick or young players
House opt in
It is not the benefit of the team.
I think Nurse will do well because he was effective with adapting Toronto’s defense to match his opponents. Because of this he, is aware of which versions of the sixers were harder to guard the past few years and can build this years team according. Hopefully developing a Pascal/ OG like forward to help on defense as well.
Harden is a washed star. He’s a one way player today. And if his shot is not falling. Then he’s already checked out. Best thing for Sixers would be to sign-n-trade him. I just don’t see who would pay him.
Rockets are fools to take him back. It’s gotta be smoke from his camp. Then they also need to move PJ. He’s only here cause of Harden. Sixers are in a delicate place right now. Their GM is a Harden fanboy. So who knows what he’ll do. If they miss out on this yr. Then Embiid could walk. This is a critical yr for them imo.
Without Harden, 76ers are are not winning anything.
If he walks for nothing
With Harden, 76ers are are not winning anything.
If Philly could sign and trade him to Houston for a few of those young piece and/or #4 that would be ideal. Reality is he doesn’t have anywhere near that value anymore.
I’m with you cgd; what about this if the Sixers could get Houston’s 20th draft pick & Kevin Porter Jr./offer tobias Harris and a future pick/future pick swap to Toronto for a sign/trade for Vanveet/ O.G. anunoby I’ll be happy then,some how Toronto can find a team to take PASCAL
SIAKAM then we are cooking.