Feb 5, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
(New York, NY) — One of the biggest shoes of NBA free agency just dropped.
Philadelphia 76ers (super?) star James Harden has opted in to his $35 million player option for next season, but in all likelihood he will not be suiting up in the City of Brotherly Love.
This is all according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Many thought Harden would just decline his option and enter free agency and court suitors on his own. But now, he’s taking his money and working with the Sixers to find a trade.
Throughout the offseason, Harden has been mostly linked to the Houston Rockets; returning to the team that drafted him has long seemed to intrigue Harden. But reports are surfacing that the Knicks and Clippers are in play as well, according to Woj.
For Philly, this is a dream come true: instead of risking him walking for nothing, they’re guaranteed to get a solid return for a top-20 NBA player. And if a team like the Knicks get him, this could reverse their fortunes in an instant if they are willing to part with some of the role players who carried them in 2023.
