James Harden declines selection with Philadelphia 76ers as parties seek new deal, sources say
Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden Sources say ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski turned down his $47.3 million pick and will become a free agent on Wednesday.
Harden holds the possibility of negotiating a new deal with Philly that will give the Sixers roster-building flexibility in free agency – including making full use of the $10.5 million exception.
In Harden’s conversations with the team since the end of the season, he has widely shared his desire to help the organization reshape the roster towards the championship, sources told ESPN.
Opting out could go a long way in reshaping the Sixers’ bench, including a full mid-level exception, a four-year exception, and valuable signings and deals. for 4.1 million dollars.
Teams can begin negotiating deals with freelance agents starting at 6 p.m. ET Thursday. However, those players can’t officially sign until 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6.
Harden, 32, averages 22.0 points and 10.3 assists in 65 games with brooklyn network and Philadelphia last season, after being sent from Brooklyn to Philadelphia as part of a blockbuster deal sent Ben Simmons in the other direction.
However, his arrival didn’t change everything for Philadelphia in the knockout stages, as the 76ers lost in the second round for the fourth time in five years.
Harden spent just a year in Brooklyn, after his wildly successful eight-year run in Houston ended at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, when he was sent to the Nets to purchase a draft of assets. in the future to combine with both. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Instead, the playoffs in the trio’s first season – the disappointing nature of which could easily be blamed on Irving’s sprained ankle and hamstring injury Harden suffered – ended in loss in the second round to the eventual champion. Milwaukee Bucks.
Then, last season, Harden’s relationship with the Nets soured when Irving was unable to play due to New York City’s request for a COVID-19 vaccine. Harden was eventually taken to Philadelphia, where he was reunited with his basketball executive chairman in Houston, Daryl Morey.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.
