James Harden opts into contract; Sixers working to trade former MVP: source
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Sixers' offseason just took a major plot twist.
James Harden opted into his $35.6 million contract on Thursday in order for the 33-year-old former MVP and the Sixers to work on a trade out of Philadelphia, a league source confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.
Leading up to the start of NBA free agency on Friday, it was expected Harden would opt out of his deal and renegotiate with the Sixers on a new contract to return to Philadelphia, but it appears he's played his last game as a Sixer.
According to The Athletic, the Sixers made it clear throughout the process that the franchise did not see a long-term future with Harden.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat are expected to emerge in the Harden sweepstakes, according to The Athletic. Earlier this week, The Athletic also reported that the Los Angeles Clippers are a "dark horse" in acquiring Harden.
Throughout the offseason, the Clippers have reportedly been gauging Paul George's trade value. Los Angeles also has several role players that the Sixers could be interested in like Norman Powell, Philly native Marcus Morris and former Sixer Robert Covington.
The Clippers also have Kawhi Leonard, who won the NBA Finals with new Sixers coach Nick Nurse in 2019 when the two were with the Toronto Raptors. Leonard, along with George, have had trouble staying healthy over the past few seasons, but they're both talented the wings Philadelphia should be interested in acquiring.
Harden heading west to play for the Clippers would be a homecoming for the Los Angeles native. He played college hoops at Arizona State before being drafted with the third overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA draft.
The Heat are looking to build around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo after making another run to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed.
The Athletic reports the Sixers have already started to negotiate and discuss Harden trades with other teams. Teams across the NBA who spoke to The Atheltic noted that a player like Harden will likely reach his preferred destination in a trade.
With the new CBA going into effect on July 1, teams might be interested in getting a deal done sooner rather than later. If Harden is acquired after July 1, the outbound salary required to trade for him increases from $28.5 million to at least $32 million.
The Houston Rockets were mentioned as a potential landing spot for Harden over the past several months, but it appears Harden won't be returning to his former home.
The news of the Sixers trying to deal with Harden comes after rumors of trading forward Tobias Harris have emerged.
Harden was acquired in February of the 2021-22 season from the Brooklyn Nets in a package that sent Ben Simmons out of Philadelphia.
The Sixers also landed Paul Millsap in the deal in exchange for Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks.
Harden is coming off a regular season where he averaged 21 points, 10.7 assists and shot 38.5% from downtown.
The Sixers finished with a 54-28 record -- their best regular season since 2001 -- as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. He led the NBA in assists and reigning MVP Joel Embiid led the NBA in scoring as the tandem became the first duo to accomplish the milestone since 1981.
But after advancing past the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs, the Sixers' season ended in disappointing fashion once again in seven games vs. the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Harden had great performances in Game 1 without Embiid and Game 4, but his no shows in Games 6 and 7 contributed to another painful second-round exit.
With free agency starting Friday, the Sixers have some other tough decisions to make.
Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels and Shake Milton are set to become unrestricted free agents and an extension for Tyrese Maxey is looming ahead.
The Sixers reportedly extended a qualifying offer to Paul Reed Wednesday, making him an unrestricted free agent.
