One NBA writer believes the Philadelphia 76ers have to re-sign star guard James Harden this offseason.
Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report has urged the Sixers to keep Harden amid rumors the former MVP could go back to the Houston Rockets.
“As daunting as it may be to be the team on the hook for James Harden’s last significant contract, the Philadelphia 76ers probably have to just buckle down and offer it,” Bailey wrote. “They won’t have the cap space to meaningfully replace him in free agency, and the 76ers have been comfortably better with him on the floor during his season and a half in Philadelphia.
“When Joel Embiid is on the floor with Harden, the Sixers are plus-11.4 points per 100 possessions, compared to plus-5.6 when Embiid plays without him.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden is expected to decline his 2023-24 player option with the Sixers to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The 10-time All-Star averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games. Harden was awful in Game 7, finishing with nine points and five turnovers while shooting 3-of-11 from the floor and 1-of-5 from 3.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Philadelphia fired Doc Rivers as head coach and hired former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who has met with Harden, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
“I know that Nick Nurse was in Houston maybe a week and a half ago and met with Danuel House and James Harden,” Iko told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “I know everyone saw the press conference where he kind of ducked the question about James when he said he’s a winning player and he’d love to have him in Philadelphia.”
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