James Harden has been one of the most polarizing superstars in the NBA over the past few years. Whether it is his playing style or trade requests, Harden always seems to make headlines, good and bad. No matter what anyone has to say about him, there is no doubt he is an elite offensive player. A 3-time scoring champion and former MVP, The Beard makes every team he is on miles better. He created a contender with the Houston Rockets and eventually formed a dominant duo with Joel Embiid, as the Philadelphia 76ers are ranked 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a 39-20 record.
Harden has his best chance to win a championship since he had a prime Chris Paul beside him in 2018, and that bodes well for the future Hall of Famer’s career. James is not the same player that won 3 straight scoring titles with the Rockets, as he is more of a pass-first player than someone looking to score every time. So far this season, Harden is posting 21.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 10.7 APG on 45.2% FG, 39.4% 3-PT FG, and 86.4% FT. Those are All-Star numbers from a player who has slowly aged, and at 33 years old, Harden has had to reinvent himself.
If the 76ers do not end up winning the NBA title this year, there could be massive changes. For one, the East is stacked with a young Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the charge in Boston. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world and is only 28 years old, meaning the Milwaukee Bucks are going nowhere. What about the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have four star players under 27 years old? With this much competition, the 76ers might not even make the Finals. Of course, coming up short again could leave Harden tired of chasing a ring, and might want to go for greener pastures. The 76ers might even move on from Doc Rivers and Tobias Harris, who has been in trade rumors all season long.
Regardless, if The Beard leaves Philadelphia in the offseason, here are the five best destinations for him. We already saw the five best destinations for Kyrie Irving, a player who has undergone the same amount of criticism that Harden has faced. James Harden will be looking for his final max contract because now is the time for that. That means the shooting guard would want a 4 or 5-year deal, although it is more realistic he gets a 2 or 3-year deal worth maximum money.
In this case, Harden will reject his player option and go for a 3-year deal of around $40 million per year. Interestingly enough, 16 NBA players will earn over $40 million for the 2023-24 season. Is it too farfetched to assume Harden will get anywhere close to $30-$40 million for around $120 million? Here are the best possible destinations for 3-time scoring champion and former MVP James Harden.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Anytime a superstar player is available, Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets should be interested. The Hornets have been one of the most promising franchises in the NBA because they have a star in LaMelo Ball and possibly Miles Bridges coming back to the court. For a player of James Harden’s caliber, joining the Hornets would absolutely be interesting because the team would have a dominant offensive player to help Ball on the court for the first time in the young man’s career. Of course, Charlotte has money to spend.
James Harden would have the chance to help bring playoff success to Charlotte or at least make the team far more competitive than they already are. The right pieces are there, with LaMelo Ball playing All-Star basketball, and there are also some young studs in P.J. Washington and possibly Miles Bridges on the squad. Harden would complete a solid starting lineup in Charlotte that could be good enough for a top-4 seed in the East. A decision to join the Hornets would greatly depend on Harden’s desire to be the primary option again because he has shown that he would prefer to take a backseat as a second or even third option.
Michael Jordan and the Hornets will be willing to go for risk and offer Harden a 2-year deal with the hopes of making a push in the East instead of dwelling at the bottom. Charlotte is one of the few teams desperate (and capable enough) to take a gamble on a soon-to-be 34-year-old shooting guard who is declining. With Harden and Ball, Charlotte can have one of the best backcourts in the NBA.
4. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made a massive move when they acquired Kawhi Leonard in 2019. The team knew they had to break the bank for a player of this stature, and they ended up building around him to win the NBA championship in the player’s first season. James Harden is not on the level of Kawhi Leonard at this moment, but he is certainly a player who could make a killing alongside Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Not to mention, head coach Nick Nurse knows how to make players better.
Harden, despite his shooting struggles this season, is putting up 21.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 10.7 APG for the Philadelphia 76ers. A double-double offensive machine every night and a star who can carry an offense on his own, Harden can basically be the primary playmaker and scorer in the offense while All-Star Siakam and Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes play around him. If Toronto finds a way to move Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr, they can create one of the best starting lineups in the NBA that would frighten the entire league. Harden, OG Anunoby, Barnes, and Siakam can bring it on both ends.
The Raptors need to act fast to acquire a star player because it is never easy for a Canadian team to challenge for an NBA championship. Trading VanVleet and Trent Jr is not the most ideal situation, but neither of these players is on Harden’s level as a passer, scorer, or impact player. Toronto will likely have a valuable prospect coming into the team in the 2023 NBA Draft, so that could be another piece. Toronto has learned that taking a gamble on a star player turns out in their favor, so paying Harden $30-$35 million per season and becoming a factor in the East makes sense for them.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers have the most talented offensive center in the NBA as the head of their franchise. Joel Embiid is a fantastic big man who is shooting 53.1% from the field, 34.0% from three, and 85.8% from the free-throw line while posting a ridiculous 33.1 PPG. Since Harden has been on board, Embiid has been a legitimate MVP candidate and even finished runner-up to Nikola Jokic last year. Even Doc Rivers has to admit that Embiid is truly a one-of-a-kind player. With a big man like Embiid in the post, Harden might decide that where he is could be best for his career.
If James Harden stays in Philadelphia, the 76ers can continue being one of the scariest teams in the East. The talent is there, along with youngster Tyrese Maxey coming into his own. The duo of Harden and Embiid simply possesses too much scoring and intangibles to not be dominant, and the shooting guard might realize he is in the best place to win a championship. However, it seems reasonable that Harden will only stay in Philly if the team makes the Eastern Conference Finals, at the very least.
Out of all the best destinations, Harden has his best chance to win a ring in Philadelphia. It is no secret that GM Daryl Morey couldn’t wait for Harden to become available, which is why he pounced when the Nets wanted the player gone. If the 76ers make the Eastern Conference Finals this year at the least, they might run it back and pay Harden max money over two years with the hopes of winning at least one NBA title with Embiid as their best player.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers need to stop wasting time and go after a second superstar player. Damian Lillard is one of the most talented players in the league, putting up 31.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 7.3 APG for Portland this year despite being out of the playoff picture. Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons are solid second and third options, posting 20.8 PPG and 21.4 PPG, respectively. Grant and Simons are solid players around Lillard, but it is not enough to lead Portland to the Eastern Conference Finals at the maximum. With a big name like James Harden, they could be right in the mix for a top-4 seed.
Damian Lillard needs help because doing everything on offense looks good for stats, All-STar appearances, and jersey sales, but not winning. Lillard and Harden would be impossible to prepare for because they are elite-scoring talents with the highest offensive IQs. With James controlling the offense and allowing Lillard some breathing room with the ball in his hands, Portland can form one of the best offenses in the league under head coach Chauncey Billups. Most importantly, Portland can show Dame that they want to win.
The Trail Blazers will not succeed as currently constructed, so it is time to move on from players to clear salary cap and make a big splash in free agency. The Trail Blazers could be willing to offer Harden at least $30 million per season, but they first must trade Jusuf Nurkic, and Cam Reddish in salary dumps to afford him. A starting lineup featuring Lillard, Simons, Harden, and Grant looks scary offensively, and they might be looking at a team that can outscore most. At the same time, Lillard gets the best player he has played alongside in terms of stature, skills, presence, and resume.
1. Houston Rockets
James Harden to the Houston Rockets is a massive possibility. After all, reports have been coming out about the shooting guard going “back home” to the place where he became a superstar and one of the greatest offensive players of all time. The Rockets made a massive decision to bring Harden over from Oklahoma City and pay him, and it worked out in their favor because he became one of the franchise’s greatest players behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone. Harden won an MVP in Houston, three scoring titles, and almost made the NBA Finals in 2018.
Harden seemingly loves the city of Houston, as he has family ties, businesses, and lots of love for the people there. NBA players are not just athletes but real people too, and sometimes playing out a career where he feels most comfortable is the priority. This could make sense because the Rockets are an atrocious team that has been tanking for the past two seasons and has drafted Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, and Alperen Sengun as a result. The Rockets are also deeply in the mix for Victor Wembanyama, one of the best talents coming into the NBA in recent memory.
If the reports are true that there is a 70% chance Harden signs with the Rockets, the player could be in the mix for a max contract. Houston is on board with only $60 million in salary cap space in 2024, as the team is full of youngsters and spare parts. They might pay Harden at least $35-$40 million over 2-3 years to bring back some legitimacy lost over the past few years, hopefully, draft Victor Wembanyama or Scott Henderson at the least, and get back to relevancy. Harden gets his money and returns home, the Rockets start gaining relevancy, and youngsters such as Jalen Green can learn from one of the game’s greatest offensive players. If Houston ends up with Wembanyama, could they actually be a threat to make the playoffs if Harden returns? That is a major possibility.
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