James Harden on 76ers player option: 'I'll be here'

Following his disappointing performance in the decisive Game 6 of the 76ers’ playoff series against Miami, James Harden indicated he’ll opt in to the final year of his contract, Derek Bodner of The Daily Six newsletter tweets.

“I’ll be here,” Harden said after Philadelphia’s 99-90 loss and elimination.

Harden has a $47.366M option on the final year of his contract.

There’s been plenty of speculation whether the Sixers would pursue extension talks with Harden after the blockbuster trade with the Nets. Harden’s lack of production in the postseason has put the Sixers in a difficult spot.

Harden, who is entering the final year of a four-year, $171M contract, indicated he’d take less in an extension. Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice tweets. “Whatever it takes to help this team continue to grow,” he said.

Harden resembled his old superstar self in Game 4 of the series, piling up 31 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. He had 22 points and 15 rebounds in the playoff clincher against Toronto.

Otherwise, he didn’t produce at the level Philadelphia hoped. Harden took only two shots and scored just 11 points in 43 minutes on Thursday.