It has been 10 days since a report indicated James Harden planned to remain with the Sixers on a one-plus-one contract that would have a starting salary about $15MM lower than the $47MM+ player option he turned down for 2022/23.
Harden and the 76ers still haven’t officially finalized that agreement, but the former MVP told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that he’s “locked in” with his new team, and offered an explanation for why he’s willing to accept a pay cut for the coming season.
“I had conversations with (president of basketball operations) Daryl (Morey), and it was explained how we could get better and what the market value was for certain players. I told Daryl to improve the roster, sign who we needed to sign and give me whatever is left over,” Harden said. “This is how bad I want to win. I want to compete for a championship. That’s all that matters to me at this stage. I’m willing to take less to put us in position to accomplish that.”
Harden’s pay cut gave the Sixers the flexibility to use their full mid-level exception and their bi-annual exception, opening the door for them to add P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, respectively. Using those exceptions triggered a $157MM hard cap for 2022/23, which Philadelphia wouldn’t have been able to stay under if the 32-year-old were earning a $47MM+ salary.
With Tucker and House now in the mix, Harden described the Sixers as a “much deeper” team, adding that he likes how Philadelphia’s roster stacks up against the NBA’s top contenders.
Of course, the 76ers’ ceiling will be determined in large part by whether Harden is once again playing at an All-NBA level next season after an up-and-down 2021/22 campaign. Harden’s averages of 22.0 PPG, 10.3 APG, and 7.7 RPG would be impressive for virtually any other player, but were slightly down by his standards, and his .410 FG% and .330 3PT% were well below his career marks. He was hampered by a hamstring issue for much of the season.
“I don’t really listen to what people are saying. I wasn’t right last season and I still almost averaged a triple-double,” Harden told Haynes. “If anybody else had those numbers, we’d be talking about them getting the max. People were used to seeing me averaging 40, 30 points, and so they viewed it as a down year. I was in Philadelphia for a couple of months and I had to learn on the fly. That’s just what it was. I’m in a good space physically and mentally right now, and I’m just looking forward to next season.”
He could have just done all that in Houston instead of team-jumping and forcing dumb trades for overpaid people who don’t work well with him.
@Dave
I’m sure it was much deeper than that. He and former Rocket’s GM Morey were close. He left Houston in 2020 to take over the 76ers. Harden didn’t depart from Houston until they failed to advance in 2021. He then reunited with Morey in Phillet last year. Plus he was under contract. No way players association would allow that to happen. But as of now. He’s still a FA so he can sign for $1 if he chose to.
Embiid and harden is a great combo
Harden needed help to win a title that Houston didn’t have the picks to get. Which is why he wanted out first to Brooklyn and then to Philly.
The Harden Rockets era had run it’s course, it was to move on for both parties.
This isn’t the nfl. Once a contract is sign you can’t change it . He only able to do that because he declined a option in order to sign a new deal for lower . Who says he wanted to stay a rocket. They didn’t show anything that they were going to improve and they didn’t do much with him there
Yea Houston had an MVP caliber player for him to work with too.
“My team is run by corrupt Morey, who agreed to make up the difference outside of NBA books!”
It’s more likely he signs a 4 yr / $180M extension next year, after getting his value back up again. That would also make up for the money he left on the table in Brooklyn.
Tucker is a fine addition, but at this stage, I don’t think he moves the needle enough to compete with Milwaukee or Boston. Unless Harden really dedicates himself to getting back into the best shape of his life, and regains some bounce, which seems, unlikely.
Or even Miami.
Right now it looks like the second round again.
Love the Sixers but you don’t win championships with the likes of niang,reed,korkman. Cap frozen and saddled with tobias Harris god awful contract,Boston and a healthy buck team are sadly,deeper and better.
Not a sixers fan at all – but, while I understand people saying Miami, Boston, Milwaukee are better I don’t know how you could just say “2nd round and out”. People felt that way about the C’s last season. Or the suns 2 years ago. Or the Hawks 2 years ago. Matchups matter in the postseason and at the end of the day they have a top 5(ish) player in the NBA and the only player better on the above listed teams is Giannis. While postseason is about depth having the best player on the court matters too. Let’s see Harden there for a full season. Sixer fans can hope (and it’s a big wish) embiid is healthy for the postseason. But I think tk sit here right now and say they aren’t one of the best teams in the East that could make it to the finals is silly and just another hot take.
Yeah. Second round and out.
Because everyone’s a hot take machine with this team and it’s just easy to say. Ask any of those peope if they eventually make it past the second round and they’ll act like they never said it.
I blame Old gms
This team had Jimmy butler and by his comments ‘Tobias harris over me ‘ signals to me he would of stayed in Philly. But someone didn’t want him either harris or Ben Simmons. This team
Still probably drafts Maxey. Could of had a monster team for years to come.
Other misses Okafor no one liked the pick with Noel and embiid already drafted.
Then let’s give so much up for fultz.
Sixers were 3 pick everyone knew too 3 was fultz, lonzo, Tatum. EVERY sixer fan I know was fine with any of the three knowing Simmons could play point. Everyone knew Boston Boston wasn’t drafting pg with rozier, smart, and Kyrie on their roster. Everyone knew LA was taking lonzo. Everyone knew Boston was taking Tatum and wouldn’t trade back past 3. Dumbest trade ever.
Picks after embiid in 2014
Jhalil okafor 1-3
Simmons 1-1
Fultz 1-1
Not to mention drafting mikal bridges 1-10 in 2018 Villanova kid, Philly raised his mom was ecstatic he was ecstatic. Only to be traded for zhaire smith
Failures all around and now all this team can do is muscle up. They failed Embiid.
I won’t blame them for Simmons since he got them harden. But so many misses. And if you chose Simmons over Jimmy really dumb
He finally mastered Al Bundy’s trick with the dollar bill on a string at the Nudy Bar. Now a Five lasts all night instead of dropping $3k..
Or the clubs in Philly are just a lot cheaper.
A lot of salty Nets fans here
Harden said. “This is how bad I want to win. I want to compete for a championship. That’s all that matters to me at this stage. I’m willing to take less to put us in position to accomplish that.”
Now you are talking!!!
Plus, go to Lourdes for a dip!!!
This dude has made enough money in his career. If this is truly his agenda, I’m all for it.