"Father Time hits everybody at a different time in their career," said Kendrick Perkins. "I think Father Time has caught James Harden right now in front of our very own eyes. James Harden doesn't have the speed or the explosiveness to get by guys. He's unable to get to the rim and finish through contact. He's not even able to get separation to get his three-point shot off. I get it, everybody wants to say Doc Rivers needs to put him in a position to be successful, but at the end of the day, James Harden has the ball in his hands. They're running pick-and-roll actions, he's having isolation plays, what other position can you put him in to have him go out there and succeed? Right now, the game has caught up to James Harden. This is the James Harden we are going to see from here on out."
James Harden May Take Less Than A Max Deal With Sixers On a recent episode of The Athletic NBA Show, Sam Amick shared some intel on James Harden's contract situation with the Philadelphia 76ers. Amick says Philadelphia may know Harden won't demand a max deal in free agency. "When the Sixers got him, their intel was that he would potentially be willing to take less. And obviously, you know, nobody knows him better than Daryl (Morey)," said Amick. Harden is eligible to sign a five-year, $270 million deal this summer, if he declines his $47.4 million player option for next season. That deal would see Harden owed over $61 million in 2026-27, when he would be 37 years old. If Harden is willing to take less this his full max, the 76ers could find themselves in a better salary cap position in both the immediate and later years of his deal. Philadelphia has already committed roughly $200 million to Joel Embiid through the same time period as Harden's next contract could run.
Morey and the 76ers would be insane to max Harden. He’s washed and it’s obvious he’s done as an elite player. It might be time to move on altogether in the next year.
Brian Windhorst on First Take: “It is extraordinarily likely that Harden will opt in to his $47.4 million salary for next season and then will negotiate with the Sixers on what sort of deal it's going to be beyond the 2022-23 season”
Morey would be stupid to lock Harden into a long term deal at this point. With his rate of decline in a few years Harden would be a bench player at best. The guy just fell off a cliff in terms of his play.
I don’t think Hardens done, but if he doesn’t take this off-season seriously his next contract is not going to be great.
Morey should definitely contemplate letting him walk if he wants a big contract or another team wants to give him one. Trading Seth Curry + 2 FRPs for 1.5 seasons of Harden doesn't seem that big of a loss since they were able to unload Simmons (Philly would have sent a FRP to get rid of him regardless). But if he re-signs to near max money and continues to decline further, then that will be Morey's albatross hanging around his neck and everyone will question if he is truly the genius that his reputation is known for.
Until harden gets his body in shape or recovers to 100% i don't think a super max is wise. Normally a player averagin 20ish points, double digits assist, folks would sign that player to a max no hesitation. Just that folks seen a better version of harden hence signing him currently to a max is not worth.
Harden injured his hamstring right? Its been a year players recover from more serious injuries by now. Maybe he should have prio his recovery instead of cavorting in France with Da Baby. You cant tell me all that alcohol and french cuisine helped his recovery smh.
Why didn’t he do that last year as soon as he got eliminated? Oh he had to go on tour with Da Lil Baby on the first flight out to Paris. You can’t just turn it on and off when you want to. Especially in your 30’s. Maybe if he would’ve rehabbed properly, fixed his diet, got the necessary rest and recovery he wouldn’t be getting schooled by guys like Dipo who’s had multiple career threatening injuries which are all way worse than what Harden’s been thru. You don’t hear about or see Dipo partying insistently, he didn’t come back out of shape and 25 pounds fatter. Why? Prob cause he was busy doing all those things I mentioned. Like a true professional.
