The remaining active NBA players from each draft class between 2003 and 2010

It is truly remarkable that LeBron is still playing as well as he does.

With each passing season, more and more players in the previous generation of the NBA are graduating into retirement.

Some of the most recognizable and dominant players of a beloved era (e.g. Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, etc.) have recently ended their professional playing careers.

As the league begins to look increasingly different every year, we decided to look at which players drafted before 2011 are still active in the league. There are only 30 players who fit those qualifications and only 19 have started more than one game this season.

Here is a look at each NBA draft class and who remains active years later.

All data is provided via Stathead and is accurate as of publishing.

What James Harden re-signing with Sixers means

The Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden have finally agreed on a deal for the 13-year veteran to return. He will re-sign with the Sixers on a two-year deal worth $68.6 million with a player option for year two, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. This …

The Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden have finally agreed on a deal for the 13-year veteran to return. He will re-sign with the Sixers on a two-year deal worth $68.6 million with a player option for year two, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. This move could serve as a temporary financial sacrifice from Harden that allows the Sixers to make moves that improve their title odds.

What James Harden re-signing with Sixers means

The Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden have finally agreed on a deal for the 13-year veteran to return. He will re-sign with the Sixers on a two-year deal worth $68.6 million with a player option for year two, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. This move could serve as a temporary financial sacrifice from Harden that allows the Sixers to make moves that improve their title odds.

Grading Sixers early free agency signings of PJ Tucker, 2 other players

We are grading the free agency additions of P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr., and Trevelin Queen for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers were one of the more aggressive teams when the free agency period opened on Thursday at 6 p.m. EDT.

They made three signings rather quickly: veteran PJ Tucker and two more former Houston Rockets, Danuel House Jr. and Trevelin Queen. The idea was to bring in more physical players who are mentally tough and can bolster the team’s depth, which was depleted by the James Harden trade.

The Sixers were able to make those moves rather quickly due to Harden opting out of his $47.3 million player option, giving the team some financial flexibility. He was a big help in Philadelphia being able to replenish its roster depth.

Here are the grades for each addition the Sixers have made thus far:

WATCH: Sixers stars party with P.J. Tucker, Meek Mill in The Hamptons

The Philadelphia 76ers stars were out partying in The Hamptons with P.J. Tucker, Meek Mill, and others.

It’s now the offseason in the NBA. The time when players relax a little bit before they turn it back up and work out again before training camp for another grueling season.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the opportunity to have a full offseason with James Harden so this is some time now to have some team bonding and grow their chemistry within the group. They did just that over the 4th of July weekend.

Harden, Joel Embiid, and even supposedly Tyrese Maxey were up in The Hamptons at a party and they also welcomed new addition P.J. Tucker to the team. At this party were big musical artists such as Meek Mill, Drake, Travis Scott, Miguel, and others.

The fact that the Sixers stars were out and spending time together away from basketball is such a huge development for this group as they look to grow as a team. On top of that, including Tucker and having him involved in team activities already is going to go a long way in building the Sixers up for the 2022-23 season and beyond.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Get to know new Sixers addition PJ Tucker following big free agent deal

Here are some facts and some knowledge on new Philadelphia 76ers addition P.J. Tucker after his big free agency deal.

The Philadelphia 76ers made their first big move of the free agency period rather quickly when they brought in PJ Tucker on a three-year $33.2 million deal. The idea is to continue to add depth to their roster and help Joel Embiid and James Harden win a title in the 2022-23 season.

Tucker, who won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, was a big part of the Miami Heat this past season. He helped them knock off the Sixers in the East semifinals, and they were one win away from the NBA Finals. He provides good offensive production and the intangibles that help teams win.

Read on to learn what the Sixers are getting with the addition of Tucker:

Sixers receive a grade of B-minus for PJ Tucker free agency signing

The Philadelphia 76ers received a B-minus for their addition of PJ Tucker in free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers were quick to act when free agency opened on Thursday, bringing in PJ Tucker on a three-year $33.2 million deal. Tucker was a big part of the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the title in 2021, and he played a key role with the Miami Heat in 2021-22.

The Sixers have been in need of somebody who is tough and physical. He will also hold others accountable out on the floor. Add his ability to knock down corner 3s and his relationship with James Harden and he’s a great fit for Philadelphia.

The only drawback with Tucker is he is 37 years old, and he does not move the way he used to. He makes up for that with his smarts and his physicality.

Bleacher Report handed out grades for free agency signings, and the Sixers received a B-minus for the addition:

After posting a way-below-average box plus/minus in 2020-21, Tucker swung back above zero there and hit 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts in 2021-22.

On a team with James Harden and Joel Embiid, he won’t be asked to do much more than stand outside on offense, take catch-and-shoot threes and do his best to stay in front of opposing forwards on the other end.

Coach Doc Rivers will have to make the new addition mesh with the other pieces on this roster, but it’s clear the Sixers upgraded to win right now, not in the future.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Versatile P.J. Tucker agrees to 3-year $33.2 million deal to join Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a 3-year $33.2 million deal with P.J. Tucker to pry him away from the Miami Heat.

In a move that has been expected around the league heading into free agency, the Philadelphia 76ers nabbed their man.

The Sixers have made their move in free agency as they have agreed to a 3-year $30 million deal with P.J. Tucker to pry him away from the Miami Heat. Tucker has experience playing with James Harden and Daryl Morey during their time together with the Houston Rockets so this is a reunion in Philadelphia.

Tucker averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 41.5% from deep in the 2021-22 season and when playing next to a guy like Harden, one needs to be locked and loaded from deep. Tucker was deadly from the corners as he shot 39% from deep at those spots which is in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass.

 

Tucker also helps the Sixers in the toughness department as he brings an edge out on the floor. That is something that Philadelphia has been in need of and this should make Joel Embiid happy as he mentioned Tucker by name after the Heat eliminated the Sixers in the playoffs back in May.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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James Harden could opt out of deal to help Sixers sign P.J. Tucker

Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden may opt out of his deal to help facilitate the signing of P.J. Tucker.

The free agency period in the NBA opens on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. EST and the Philadelphia 76ers have their eyes on rebuilding their depth and bringing in P.J. Tucker on a deal.

The Sixers had to give up a lot in order to acquire James Harden and now is the time to rebuild that and build a stronger roster and contend in the Eastern Conference. The addition of Tucker is viewed as a piece that can help them get over the top in the East and help push them in the right direction again.

At the moment, the Sixers do not have the cap space in order to sign Tucker to that 3-year $30 million deal he is expecting to receive from Philadelphia. In order to clear cap space, the Sixers will have to make some trades, but if Harden decides to opt out of his player option and restructure his deal, that could help facilitate them bringing in Tucker.

Per Brian Windhorst on ESPN’s “Get Up” ahead of the 5 p.m. EST Wednesday deadline for Harden to make his decision:

James Harden is going to remain with Philly in a medium term contract, probably not a 5-year deal, but maybe a 3-year deal, maybe a 4-year depending on the guarantee, but I don’t think we should assume necessarily that he’s going to opt into that $47 million. And maybe this is one of the reasons why it’s coming down to today’s deadline. Philly needs to rebuild the depth that they lost in that trade and if Harden is willing to take less of the max, which it appears that he is going to, he could opt out of that contract, lower his salary down from $47 million for next year as part of a new deal that guarantees him probably over $100 million, and then that would free the Sixers to use their full $10 million mid-level exception. They already made one move last week but they traded for De’Anthony Melton at the draft to support their bench. They could potentially look to sign a guy like P.J. Tucker, but to fit P.J. Tucker on their books, they’re gonna have to offload some money, and one of the ways they can do it is by Harden restructuring that contract.

It is a foregone conclusion that Harden will be in Philadelphia for a few years, at least. President Daryl Morey loves him and the two sides will have to decide how they want to move forward with this. Harden opting out will be a big help in order to acquire Tucker when free agency opens.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Final free agent list: 5 targets who make sense for Philadelphia 76ers

Here is a final list of 5 targets who make sense for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency in 2022.

Free agency is set to begin on Thursday night and the Philadelphia 76ers still need to make some moves in order to clear enough space to sign who they want–i.e., P.J. Tucker–but now is the time to take one more list of players who fit what the Sixers want to do ad build around Joel Embiid and James Harden.

The Sixers need players who are not afraid to pull the trigger on an open 3-ball, can provide quality depth on the wings, and they also have to come on the cheap. Philadelphia will be working with a tight budget as they only have certain exceptions they can offer to free agents and the biggest one–the nontaxpayer mid-level exception–will likely be offered to Tucker.

Therefore, Sixers Wire has put together a list of five players who look like they can fit with the Sixers want to do in the 2022-23 season and help contend for a title.