CAMDEN, N.J.–The Philadelphia 76ers are in the process of picking up the pieces following another Round 2 exit and they now have to move forward in finding a new coach as well as looking to take care of James Harden.
The Beard, per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, is expected to opt out of his current deal and enter free agency entering the summer. Harden had one of his better seasons in 2022-23 as he led the league in assists and he also shot a career-high 38.5% from deep.
Haynes reports:
Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden intends to decline his $35.6 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer in order to secure a long-term deal, league sources tell Bleacher Report.
The Houston Rockets have long been a rumored destination, but sources say Harden will only entertain suitors that present a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for the star to be himself, sources say.
President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey on Wednesday discussed the interest in bringing Harden back, but added that they haven’t been able to negotiate with him just yet. Obviously, they must wait until that period, but the interest will be there.
“We can’t have those discussions yet, but we are interested in bringing him back,” Morey said.
Some might figure that the first step in bringing Harden back was the firing of coach Doc Rivers who The Beard described his relationship with Rivers as just “OK”. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from one of the team’s star players, but Morey brushed that off.
“Obviously, it’s the business we’re in that players, and coaches too, they have to give these instant answers,” Morey added. “I get the benefit of a couple of days between the toughest situation that the players have faced in a long time and giving answers to you today (Wednesday).”
Morey isn’t wrong that players can be emotional in the moment after their season just ended and just say what they want to say in that situation.
“I think people make too much of those snap answers right after a loss like that,” Morey continued. “I think Doc had great relationships with his players. We wouldn’t have had the success we had without it and his relationship with both Joel (Embiid) and James was very strong. I think people saw that chemistry on the court between the three of them and that was something that was not an issue.”
The Sixers will certainly have to make a tough decision on Harden. He had moments of greatness in Round 2 against the Boston Celtics (see Game 1 and Game 4), but he also had moments when he struggled mightily (see Game 2, Game 3, Game 6, Game 7).
Either way, Harden still is an All-Star caliber player who has taken on the No. 2 role seamlessly and the Sixers will need to decide if he’s a player they want to commit to.
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