10-time NBA All-Star James Harden returning to the Philadelphia 76ers on a team-friendly deal remains the focus of the Sixers’ offseason, according to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.
Harden has been heavily linked to going back to the Houston Rockets. However, there now appears momentum for the Sixers to re-sign the former MVP.
“Harden returning to the Sixers on a team-friendly deal remains the focus of Philadelphia’s offseason, and it looks increasingly likely that they might be able to make that happen,” Neubeck wrote. “The Houston Rockets are Harden’s biggest suitor outside of Philadelphia, but the indication is that they are not willing to go over the top with years or dollars to sign him specifically.
“Sources told PhillyVoice that Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta wants to establish a more solid culture alongside the arrival of head coach Ime Udoka, and Houston has shown interest in free agents Fred Van Vleet, Brook Lopez, and Dillon Brooks among others.”
Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 2023-23 while shooting 44.1% from the floor, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. The lefty led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games despite having a 3-2 lead in the series. Doc Rivers was fired as head coach and replaced by Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors.
Harden becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30 once he declines his 2023-24 player option. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract last summer.
One of the greatest players of all time, Harden has career averages of 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He is still looking to win his first championship.
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