[Haynes] 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.
by rhinoceratop
@Philadelphia 76ers
37 Comments
Have fun in Houston.
Wish I could say it’s been fun, but…
Bye. If we really give him a 4 year max this team is absolutely doomed
More (bold mine):
>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.
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>At the moment, the Sixers are the only logical option, coming off a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference in the regular season. But the dynamic in Philadelphia will undoubtedly change next season, considering the Sixers have to find the right coach after dismissing Doc Rivers.
Harden is gone.. Embiid trade request incoming…Trust the process all over again!
How old is he after 4 years, like 60?
He said he wanted to compete, well he can compete for the play-in with Houston.
he was going to do this regardless of if he stays or not
No way we pay a 37 year old harden the max, looks like its over
Not surprising, he was always going to decline it unless he had a complete disaster of a year. He had a really strong bounceback year with an obviously shit ending. He’s still a top level PG that will get strong offers.
We are fucked regardless either sign him long term or we let him leave and we are still $25m over the cap. Cant replace him without a sign and trade.
If he wants to stay he has to take a pay cut otherwise good luck in Houston
Someones gotta ask morey about this right now while hes live
Not having James opens up a massive hole. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned with how it’s gonna be filled
This was always a given. Why would he not secure a multi-year deal?
I think he’s very likely to stay in Philly, but if other teams aren’t interested we could get him at a slightly lower price.
Morey in his presser just now: “We can’t have those discussions yet, but we are interested in bringing him back.
[…]
“Scenario A would be to bring James back. Scenario B, if he’s not back, will be — we’ll have to get creative, and we feel good about the tools available to us if that happens.”
This was always what was going to happen. This is not a surprise. It is a nothingburger. Do not attempt to read into what this is. It was always going to be this way from the second Harden signed the agreement last season.
Now proceed in overreacting and reading into it.
We are so absolutely beyond fucked
Man. It’s crazy to be in this position. There is a large part of me that wants him to walk, trade Joel to Portland for 3 1st, run it back with maxey, springer, Reed, Portland’s draft pick and let’s just go back to building. Move tobias at the deadline to get what you can, and start the process again. Because Harden walking frees no cap, and running it back with this core is the definition of insanity
Team is at the crossroads here. Either tear it down and gain assets and picks and hold onto Maxey and some young guys or try to build one last shot as embiid really only has a few years of top tier elite play left.
Looking back I wish we traded for haliburton. Hali is so nice
Man, I didn’t get the impression he had a “long-term” career left. From what I’ve seen, his heroics were fewer and farther in between. But if someone wants to give him that contract, life goes on.
Hope he gets his bag, as long as it’s not here
I don’t care what he intends to do, just lemme know when it’s decided.
It seems like yall fans are a stones throw away from turning into Brooklyn Nets fans
hard pass
This comes as a surprise to absolutely no one unless he had such a bad year he wouldn’t get a long term contract he was always going to opt out. I hope they bring him back but at less money then a max, still pay him he’s still a very good pg but give us some flexibility.
Bye Felicia
Predictable but disappointing. Sixers should try to get him for a cheaper deal (like last season but more seasons) or look for a sign and trade.
He’s just not worth a 4-year max deal.
Strippers of Philadelphia, if you’re reading this, we need you. It’s time to drop it lower than you ever have and show Mr. Harden that this is the town for him.
If Morey plans on giving him a max he should be fired before he commits that mistake
If they give him a 4 year, anywhere even close to max, this team is doomed for the next decade.
Thanks for game 1 and 4, goodbye and best of luck on your next team
Dame Time
Please take him Houston
Morey will be willing to max him because if it doesn’t work out morey is gonna be gone before the contract is done.
Let him walk. He just doesn’t have the legs anymore to be able to do it offensively consistently beyond passing. Looks like a player 4-5 years older than he actually is.
Guys, before Harden got here we had no one on the team that could complete an entry pass into the post. Last season he was the assist leader. The sixers have his bird rights and he isn’t super max eligible.
Having this guy on the max will hurt less than the Sixers playmaking abilities cratering imo.