In the summer of 2022, James Harden declined his $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season and signed a two-year, $68 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The NBA star took approximately $14 million less than what he was due in a player option so the team could sign PJ Tucker away from the Miami Heat.
Harden taking less money with the Sixers in 2022 was sold by the franchise as a “sacrifice.” However, according to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Harden knew the reason he was “sacrificing” was because the Sixers didn’t feel comfortable offering him a new maximum contract worth upward of $270 million.
This summer, Harden was eligible for a four-year, $210 million contract if he declined his $35.6 million player option for next season. He was expecting a contract in that range from the Sixers.
Harden felt that Sixers president Daryl Morey was “ghosting” him before free agency started. Rather than wait for Morey and the Sixers to present whatever offer they had come up with once free agency opened on July 1, Harden decided to pick up his $35.6 million player option before the June 30 deadline and request a trade.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Harden was fined $100,000 by the NBA for calling Morey “a liar” during his Adidas tour in China. The NBA launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Harden’s public admonishment of Morey. As part of the investigation, Harden told NBA investigators he called Morey “a liar” because he wasn’t traded “quickly” after opting into his player option for the 2023-24 season, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
In 58 games for the Sixers last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Sixers agreed to search out a trade upon Harden’s request after the talented guard picked up his $35.6 million player option for next season in June. However, Philadelphia’s asking price for Harden was steep and no teams were willing or able to meet it.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Discussion about this post