The Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden need to figure something out sooner rather than later.
The often-disgruntled superstar has opted in on the final year of his contract with the desire to be traded, but the team’s asking price is reportedly too high at the time.
Given Harden’s age, history of injuries, off-court activity, and postseason performances, it’s highly unlikely that any team will be willing to pay up.
With that in mind, Brian Windhorst is reporting (via Bleacher Report) that the team still hasn’t ruled out the possibility of just keeping him for another season.
The 76ers have yet to “rule out” James Harden returning next season, per @WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/hju0f8unnB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 3, 2023
Truth be told, they dominated in the regular season, so there’s no reason to think they couldn’t thrive again under Nick Nurse.
Then again, Daryl Morey has always been a huge Harden guy, so chances are that he’s overvaluing him right now.
Morey has often been a tough GM to negotiate with, and he’s the kind of guy who’ll rather play the long game and be patient before making a move.
That has often led rival teams to shut the door on him when he’s looking to move one of his players, and that could be the case with both Harden and Tobias Harris next season.
That might not be the wisest approach to take with an aging player with a history of underperforming in the postseason.
But who knows?
Maybe a coaching change was everything this team needed to get over the hump once and for all, assuming Harden is actually willing to stay for another year.
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The 76ers Are Reportedly Telling Teams That 1 Player Is Untouchable