While it was widely assumed that James Harden would pick up his $47.4 million option with the 76ers for the 2022-23 season by Wednesday afternoon’s deadline, that didn’t happen.
An NBA source confirmed Harden declined the option and is apparently choosing to take less money this season to give the Sixers a better chance to sign somebody like Heat free agent power forward P.J. Tucker, who star center Joel Embiid covets, without having to dump multiple current players and deplete the team’s already-thin bench once free agency begins Thursday night.
“In Harden’s mind opting out of that deal and then negotiating a new contract gives the Sixers a lot more financial flexibility to go and improve this team,” said ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday morning. “He told them he wants to win and is committed to winning.”
Tucker could sign with the Sixers for up to $32 million over three years via the non-taxpayer mid-level exception if there’s enough room, which would mean the team has to remain below the luxury-tax apron of about $157 million in 2022-23.
The Sixers could’ve extended Harden’s contract up to four more years and $223 million in August if he had picked up the option. Harden is expected to sign a multi-year deal worth perhaps $40 million per season (three years, $120 million?) to remain with the Sixers during free agency. A contract starting at $37 million, along with $10 million non-taxpayer MLE to Tucker and using the $4.1 million bi-annual exception, would put the Sixers about $1 million below the $157 million with 15 players.
“It’s a mutual lovefest, so we feel like we’ll work it out,” said Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after last Thursday’s draft.
The veteran guard, acquired in a February trade-deadline deal with the Nets in which Ben Simmons went to Brooklyn, averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 21 regular-season games as a Sixer.
Selected to the last 10 all-star games, Harden contributed 18.6 points, 8.6 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 12 playoff contests — six each against the Raptors and Heat — though he didn’t look for his shot as much as the Sixers needed him to, especially in fourth quarters vs. Miami and struggled to score inside.
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Morey acquired Harden when he was general manager of the Rockets in 2012 and again in February. Harden’s individual highlight was earning league MVP honors in 2017-18, which was the first of his three consecutive seasons scoring above 30 points per game.
Harden and Tucker were teammates for three-plus seasons in Houston.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
