Just minutes after the Philadelphia 76ers were beaten by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, James Harden was given a simple question from a reporter: Would Harden, a pending free agent, take a short-term pay cut to help the Sixers build the rest of their career? list around Harden and MVP runner-up Joel Embiid?
Harden responded to the question diplomatically at the time, giving the following response: “I’ll be here. [I’ll do] whatever it takes to help this team keep growing and get us in there with the best. ‘We’re trying to win a championship. That’s the goal. .whatever it looks like.”
Harden’s comments sounded good at the time, but many were skeptical that he would actually follow them. As we now know, Harden has truly lived up to his word, turning down his $47 million player option for the 2022-23 season and agreeing to a new two-year contract that will pay him $32 million next season and includes a player. option for the second season. The deal has yet to be finalized as negotiations are “still ongoing”, according to Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, but negotiations are in a “good place” and will likely be completed in the near future. .
By slashing $15 million from the amount owed to him next season, Harden, 32, created financial flexibility for the Sixers this summer — flexibility the team used to bolster the roster with additions like P.J. Tucker and Daniel House. Such signings would not have been possible without Harden leaving some bread on the table. Additionally, the organization was able to keep Harden while avoiding making a long-term commitment to an aging player. For these reasons, the new deal reported to Harden should be considered a major victory for Philadelphia.
Given his postseason performance – 18.6 points, 10.5 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game – the Sixers likely had some reservations regarding Harden’s long-term outlook as an impactful player. These reservations are shared by a multitude of experts and many fans. The former league MVP is clearly still extremely effective as a playmaker and spacer. His simple presence on the ground draws the attention of defenders in a way that none of Embiid’s previous teammates have. However, he didn’t appear to be the same lethal scorer he was when he was a perennial MVP contender as a member of the Houston Rockets.
Harden was never necessarily an athletic athlete, but he occasionally appeared sluggish during his first season with the Sixers, and at times he displayed a notable lack of energy. He had a hard time getting past defenders on the perimeter, and an equally difficult time finishing over defenders around the rim. Without that burst of offensive lineman he displayed for a decade in Houston, Harden was forced to rely heavily on 3-pointers and free throws for his points production.
If the Sixers had signed Harden to a massive four- or five-year extension, there’s a real chance that such a deal could become a liability on the backend. Overcommitting to a player with a [potentially] decreasing skill set can be very costly, as it can hamper the team’s ability to improve in the future. The team reportedly guarded against this by signing Harden to a 1+1 contract, which will provide an extended opportunity to see how he looks physically after an entire offseason of training. This should help the team get a better assessment of how much premium fuel Harden has left in the proverbial tank. Remember, he was dealing with the hamstring injury he suffered as a member of the Brooklyn Nets last offseason, so he didn’t have the opportunity to train at the high level he would have liked and that could have happened. impacted its performance.
“I’ve been trying to get through a basketball season for two years in a row,” Harden said in May. “And it’s like, isn’t that. You know what I mean? All last summer I was rehab. It was a little frustrating because I’m not used to going through something like this, but it is what it is. be healthy now. I have a whole summer to be straight and do the things necessary to come back even better next year.”
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In addition to seeing what Harden looks like physically, the Sixers will now also have a [much] larger sample size to judge how well Harden fits alongside Embiid. The pair’s initial returns were promising, especially in pick-and-roll, but were limited. So instead of locking in Harden as Embiid’s sidekick for the foreseeable future, the Sixers can evaluate the duo over the course of the next season and then go from there. To see also : ‘The Umbrella Academy’ dethroned on Netflix’s top 10 list of a new show. If things work out well, the Sixers could re-sign Harden next summer (or next). Otherwise, the two sides may separate along the same timeline. In this situation, the Sixers are well positioned for any eventuality.
While the reported deal is solid for the Sixers, it also makes sense for Harden. Sure, he loses money in the short term, but he’s secured more overall income over the life of the contract if he chooses his option for the 23-24 campaign. Also, the deal basically gives him a chance to build up his own stock. If he goes out and has a stellar season and shows that his skills aren’t waning, he’ll put himself in a position to secure another big payday next summer. Otherwise, he will at least have the security of an additional season at a high price to fall back on.
Sure, Harden could probably have gotten more money out of the situation, but there are other reasons why the deal is beneficial for him – namely the fact that the Sixers give him an excellent chance to continue fighting for his first title – and Harden, who has racked up over $250 million in career earnings, has made it clear that it’s what’s most important to him at this point in his career. Also, putting the team first, as Harden seems to have done here, helps combat any lingering “he’s selfish” narratives.
Time will reveal just how good Harden’s new deal is, but for now it certainly seems to be prudent for both sides.
Why are Nets trade Harden?
The Nets – led by Kevin Durant – had issues with Harden’s level of effort, conditioning, responsibility and attitude, and Harden was frustrated with the team’s playstyle and Kyrie Irving’s refusal to be vaccinated, according to Bleacher. Read also : Sunday Sports: Watertown Rapids are looking for a fourth straight victory. Report
How did the Nets switch to Harden? For Harden, the Nets gave up promising young players Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, as well as a ton of draft picks. Here’s the full collection: 2021 First Round Pick Swap with the Nets. Nets’ 2022 unprotected first-round pick (since becoming Tari Eason, number 17 overall)
Why didn t Harden like the Nets?
On Tuesday, ahead of the Nets’ showdown with the Lakers, a report by Jake Fischer of the Bleacher Report indicated that Harden doesn’t like living in Brooklyn — in part because of the weather and higher taxes — and he’s not satisfied. To see also : It’s all coming to Amazon Prime Video in July. featuring Kyrie Irving. -player setup time.
Who did the Nets just trade?
Eastern Conference rivals agreed to a big deal ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers completed a highly successful trade centered on former Kia NBA MVP James Harden and former All-Star Ben Simmons, according to multiple reports.
Who was traded to the 2020 Nets? Traded Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Allen Crabbe, and a 2020 1st-round pick (Aleksej Pokusevski was selected later) to the Atlanta Hawks for Taurean Prince and a 2021 2nd-round pick (Marcus Zegarowski was selected later). Signed D’Angelo Russell as a free agent. Signed Nicolas Claxton to a multi-year contract.
Who did the Nets get rid of?
Kyrie Irving met with the media after the Brooklyn Nets were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Monday. The Brooklyn Nets lost 116-112 to the Boston Celtics on Monday night in Game 4 at the Barclays Center.
Who just signed with the Nets?
The Brooklyn Nets have officially signed veteran T.J. Warren.
Who did the Nets get in Harden trade?
Harden was the centerpiece of a highly successful trade to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday that sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks to the Nets.
When did the Nets switch to James Harden? January 14, 2021 – After weeks of friction in Houston and a trade request, Harden is traded from the Rockets to the Nets as part of a four-team trade.
Who did the Nets get for Harden?
The Brooklyn Nets closed a big deal on the trade deadline when they acquired Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two Philadelphia 76ers first-round picks in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap.
Who did the Nets receive in the trade?
O’Neale was chosen for next year’s Draft. Royce O’Neale is heading to the Eastern Conference. The Utah Jazz are trading Royce O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick, according to multiple reports.
What did Nets give up in Harden trade?
The team acquired perennial All-NBA guard James Harden and Paul Millsap from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks.
How long is James Harden contract with Nets?
James Harden has a 4-year contract worth over $171 million. The contract runs until the 2021-22 season, with a player option for the 2022-23 season. According to the latest media reports, James can sign a contract extension and that extension can be up to three years.
What is James Harden’s deal with the Nets? Harden reportedly never made his wish public for fear of the backlash he might incur by requesting a trade in back-to-back seasons. As part of the deal, Harden will opt for his $47.3 million player option for next season, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
How many years are left on Harden’s contract?
James Harden’s New Contract James Harden has a player option of $47.4 million for next season. If he exercises it, he will become eligible to extend with the Sixers for up to four years, $222.8 million as of August 10, 2022.
What is James Harden’s current contract?
Since Harden earned $44.3 million in 2021-22, he could sign a new contract starting at $46.5 million, even if that’s well above the 35% maximum. With the 76ers, that starting salary with annual increases of 8% results in a five-year, $269.9 million contract.
