As per reports, Harden is interested in renegotiating a new deal with the 76ers
James Harden, a star player for the Philadelphia 76ers, has declined his $47.3 million option to leave the team and become a free agent, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.
Harden maintains the possibility of renegotiating a new contract with Philadelphia that would provide the Sixers with roster-building flexibility in free agency, including the use of the full $10.5 million exceptions.
Since the end of the regular season, Harden has talked extensively with the team about his desire to assist the organization in reshaping the roster in the direction of championship contention.
The opt-out, along with the full mid-level exception, the $4.1 million biennial exception, and sign-and-trade deals, could go a long way toward reshaping the Sixers’ bench.
Teams may begin negotiating contracts with free agents as early as 6 p.m. ET on Thursday. However, those players will not be able to sign until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.
Harden, 32, averaged 22.0 points and had 10.3 assists in 65 games with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers this season. He was traded from Brooklyn to Philadelphia as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Ben Simmons the other way.
His arrival, however, did not affect the 76ers’ playoff performance, as they were eliminated in the second round for the fourth time in five years.
After his wildly successful eight-year run in Houston ended right at the start of the 2020–21 season, Harden was sent to the Nets in exchange for a slew of future draft picks to team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Harden’s relationship with the Nets deteriorated last season as a result of Irving’s inability to play due to New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Harden was eventually traded to Philadelphia, where he was reunited with Daryl Morey, Houston’s president of basketball operations.
