James Harden has so far been the ideal acquisition for the Philadelphia 76ers. His play on the court after the trade may have left a lot to be desired but what he has done in the offseason has been more than admirable from the perspective of the franchise. Harden took a pay cut on his new contract so the Sixers could put a contending team around him and Embiid, an amazing move.
It’s not often that superstars leave money on the table when it comes to their contracts and while Harden’s gesture may be seen as an example of his desire to win, it has also raised some questions. And NBA insider Marc Stein has now reported that many across the league believe Harden’s gesture might be because Daryl money has made assurances about future earnings after this contract.
“There is a suspicion in some corners of the league that Harden had to have consented to this arrangement because he also secured a wink-wink guarantee about the future — meaning a promise from Morey that would allow Harden to recoup what he left on the table this offseason by declining the player option for next season in his new Sixers deal and then signing a whopper of a five-year deal in the summer of 2023 at almost 34,” writes Stein.
“Such speculation is inevitable given how close Morey and Harden clearly are, but I’ve also heard plenty around the league question whether the Sixers, beyond the fact that these types of arrangements are against league rules, could actually bring themselves to give Harden any assurances.”
The 76ers managed to sign both P.J. Tucker and Danuel House while also trading for De’Anthony Melton thanks to the flexibility offered by Harden. The team looks ready to make a deep playoff run with this roster, something that has not been a possibility for a long time. But if something is off with the Harden deal, it may potentially cast a shadow on any success they may have.
