The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2023 offseason with plenty of uncertainty regarding their future, more specifically with James Harden. While there has been plenty of speculation that Harden may leave the Sixers for the Houston Rockets, more and more reports have suggested that Harden may not leave after all.

NBA Insider Marc Stein only added more fuel to that fire when he reported on his Substack on June 25 that Harden returning to the Sixers had gained more traction while explaining why.

“The idea that James Harden will re-sign with Philadelphia in free agency rather than return to Houston for a second stint with the Rockets has gained momentum over the past week or two.

“Among the whispered reasons for the change in forecast: Word is Harden came away from his introductory meeting with new Sixers coach Nick Nurse intrigued by Nurse’s vision,” Stein wrote.

Nurse has both an NBA title and an NBA Coach of the Year award to his name. Former Sixers head coach Doc Rivers did too, but the difference is Nurse’s accolades are much more recent. His title came in 2019, while Doc’s came in 2008. Nurse won the Coach of the Year award the year after winning a title, and Rivers won the same award in 2000.

Sixers ‘Determined’ to Bring Back James Harden

On the June 23 episode of Sportscenter, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski gave the full details on the Sixers’ pursuit of Harden.

“They’re determined to keep James Harden, but it’ll be a negotiation,” Wojnarowski said. “It’s probably not going to be just the traditional full max long-term deal that he’s been able to command throughout his career.”

Wojnarowski also mentioned how the addition of Nick Nurse could impact how Harden approaches his next free agency.

“A lot can happen, and I’m sure will happen before June 30, but certainly, there’s a pathway back to a contender with the Sixers, perhaps financially for James Harden that could make a lot of sense, and certainly, a team with Nick Nurse, as their new head coach, you know, certainly provides a backdrop for him to continue with a contender.”

James Harden Re-Signing May Lead to Tobias Harris Trade

Harden re-signing isn’t the only plotline going on this offseason. They may also look at trading Tobias Harris. Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that their futures may be connected to one another while adding who might get him.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore proposed a hypothetical deal between the two sides if Harden stays among other dominos.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

With Tobias Harris entering the last year of a five-year, $180 million contract he signed back in 2019, many have wondered if he may have played his last game with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris is on an expiring deal, which could be used to acquire another star or get more depth. Alas, it appears the Sixers have every intention of keeping him.

While reporting that the Sixers and Phoenix Suns have stopped discussing a trade involving Harris, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Sixers have every intention of keeping him going forward.

Pompey gave the full scoop on what would have had to happen to make a deal go down between the Sixers and Suns while including what the Sixers plan to do with Harris.

“Phoenix would have had to move (Deandre) Ayton as part of the Harris deal. But the Sixers have no interest in the 7-foot, 250-pounder or any players the Suns would make available.

“The Sixers were also unwilling to get a third team involved to facilitate the deal. The team has been adamant that it doesn’t intend to trade Harris at this time.”

With the Sixers potentially re-signing James Harden this offseason, it sounds like their plans are to run it back with last year’s squad, more or less. Whether or not they keep it intact throughout the whole season could be a different story.

How Tobias Harris & James Harden’s Futures Are Linked

Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that Harden’s next deal with the Sixers – should he re-sign – depends on if they trade Harris.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris,” Moore wrote.

Moore added who is considered to be Harris’ next team.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

If the Sixers plan to keep Harris on top of re-signing Harden, perhaps the Sixers believe that Harden can be attainable at the right price.

Tobias Harris’ Dad Calls Out Sixers

When asked if the Sixers have utilized Harris properly, Harris’ father-agent, Torrel Harris, explained on the “Business of Sports” podcast why he doesn’t think so.

“Personally, I don’t think so. The reason I say that, well, Tobias is an assassin scorer. I mean, they can’t stop him. Nobody in the league can stop him. So he’s proven that over his career, even when he was with the Clippers, he was an assassin scorer,” Harris said.

Torrel then added why it’s frustrating to watch Harris play in the Sixers’ offense, knowing how good he believes his son is.

“They didn’t utilize him. He was not a priority in their offense, and that’s kind of frustrating because if you’re a kick-butt player…you don’t want to be in the corner twiddling your thumb.”

Harris has never quite found a place on the Sixers while playing under Brett Brown and Doc Rivers. Things may change with new head coach Nick Nurse.

The Philadelphia 76ers could ask the Cleveland Cavaliers for their entire young frontcourt, according to a proposed blockbuster trade by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey that would’ve sent away Tobias Harris’ expiring $39 million deal in exchange for Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and a future draft pick.

Such a deal would’ve made Allen a backup behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid. The same situation would’ve applied to P.J. Tucker heading to the second unit in favor of Mobley.

Cleveland’s front office likely balked at the deal after the Cavs secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 4 seed in the playoffs. In truth, such a proposal from Daryl Morey and the rest of the Sixers’ front office was likely more of a statement to executives league-wide that the price of Harris is steep rather than a serious proposal.

This proposal aligns with what Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported during a June 20 appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic.

“I don’t think anything is moving right now on a Tobias Harris trade,” Fischer said. “Right now he’s not a major player on the board around the NBA. Things can change but there’s nothing really to keep an eye on at this moment.”

Sixers’ Tobias Harris Doesn’t Address Mavericks’ Needs

Dallas Basketball’s Grant Afseth doesn’t believe Harris fits a need for the Dallas Mavericks — who was one of the teams Pompey reported had an interest in the Long Island native — and deemed the idea of a deal “challenging.”

“With the Mavs’ focus being to bolster their defense and rebounding, Harris would not be the type of trade target that would address those needs,” Afseth prefaced before saying, “Additionally, for any team attempting to trade for Harris, it will be challenging to send out enough salary the Sixers are willing to take back in a trade without using cap space.”

As Afseth puts it, a Harris deal more than likely takes the Mavs out of the running for their non-mid-level exception; as well as a chance to bring on a proven veteran on a modest free-agent contract.

“For the Mavs to maintain a pathway to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, there would need to be creativity in navigating a trade package for Harris,” Afseth prefaced before saying, “Losing that mechanism wold impact the ability to add a proven rotation player.”

Analyst Wants Bulls to Swap Zach LaVine for Tobias Harris

Bulls Wire’s Jack Simone likes the idea of the Chicago Bulls swapping out Zach LaVine’s long-term deal with the Sixers for Harris’ expiring contract from Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey; pitching the potential blockbuster for a rebuild’s sake.

“The idea of adding Harris may not sound ideal to most Bulls, but getting off of LaVine’s contract could help them start fresh,” Simone wrote.

Simone fears the Bulls could be looking to run it back with the LaVine-DeMar DeRozan-Nikola Vucevic troika after missing the postseason in 2023.

“The Chicago Bulls roster is solid, but it’s not a championship-caliber group, and for any team around the league, that should be the ultimate goal,” Simone prefaced before saying, “That being said, Arturas Karnisovas seems intent on running the same core back, but that could have serious implications for the future of the franchise.”

Philadelphia 76ers wing Tobias Harris will enter the final year of the five-year, $180 million contract, which has made him more desirable for other teams. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phoenix Suns are among Harris’ interested suitors.

Pompey explained why the Suns are interested in Harris and why they would like a deal to get done as soon as possible.

“A source said the Suns want Harris to play alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. And they want to acquire him before the start of free agency on June 30 because of possible second apron ramifications,” Pompey wrote.

Pompey then explained the snag in a potential deal between the two sides.

“The only thing is Phoenix would have to move Deandre Ayton. The Sixers have no interest in the 7-foot, 250-pounder with three years and $102 million left on his contract. And why would they when franchise player and reigning MVP Joel Embiid, like Ayton, plays center?”

“The Sixers also don’t have any interest in any of the players the Suns would make available.”

Pompey concluded by saying what would have to be done to facilitate a deal.

“So Phoenix wants the Sixers to get a third team involved to facilitate the deal, according to a source. However, the Sixers are unwilling to do so.”

Insider Floats Kings as Harris’ Next Destination

While talking about how Harris’ and James Harden’s futures are linked to one another, Matt Moore of Action Network explained why he believes the Sacramento Kings are his next team.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore then explained what would have to happen for a deal to be agreed on.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

Sixers in No Rush to Trade Tobias Harris

Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice reported on June 20 that the Sixers are not rushing to trade Harris.

“One source familiar with the Sixers’ thinking urged caution when asked if a deal for Harris could materialize this week, suggesting there was no real traction on a deal at present and that the team wouldn’t rush into a deal just to trade Harris for the sake of it,” Neubeck wrote.

Neubeck added that despite all the alterations that will occur on July 1, the Sixers believe they’ll have opportunities to make the right trade with Harris.

“While shifting trade rules will alter their options after July 1st, the Sixers believe they’ll have multiple windows (the draft, the pre-camp period, and the pre-deadline period) to explore potential trades and won’t commit to dealing Harris unless it improves Philadelphia’s flexibility or top-end ceiling.”

Tobias Harris has never quite fit with the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite his reputation as a scorer before his acquisition, Harris has never found his place on the team. His father-agent, Torrel Harris, believes that the Sixers are to blame for Harris’ struggles.

When asked if he thinks the Sixers have utilized Harris properly, Torrel explained on the “Business of Sports” podcast why he doesn’t believe so.

“Personally, I don’t think so. The reason I say that, well, Tobias is an assassin scorer. I mean, they can’t stop him. Nobody in the league can stop him. So he’s proven that over his career, even when he was with the Clippers, he was an assassin scorer,” Harris said.

Torrel then added how his contract demands with the Los Angeles Clippers led to his trade to the Sixers in 2019 and how they’ve underutilized him.

“And then [L.A.] traded him ’cause they got too good [and wanted to pivot to the Draft Lottery]. They offered us $80M. I turned down the $80M. They said, ‘Wow, what are you looking for?’ I said, ‘I want about $35M a year, and they’re like, ‘What?’ — I said, ‘Yeah, $35M a year. [They] said, ‘Well, we’re not gonna pay you that.’ So they traded him to the Sixers. Ever since [then] the Sixers,’ they put him in the corner.”

Harris elaborated on why he finds it so frustrating to see how the Sixers use his son.

“They didn’t utilize him. He was not a priority in their offense, and that’s kind of frustrating because if you’re a kick-butt player…you don’t want to be in the corner twiddling your thumb.”

James Harden & Tobias Harris’ Future are Connected

With James Harden entering free agency and Harris’ max contract expiring, Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that what will help the Sixers’ chances of keeping Harden will depend on how things shake out if and when they trade Harris.

Moore also added who he believes is the most likely team to trade for Harris.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore previewed what a deal between the Sixers and Kings would look like.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

Multiple Teams Interested in Tobias Harris

On June 21, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported which teams were interested in Harris while adding what it would take to pry Harris from the Sixers.

“The Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers have made inquiries about Harris’ availability, according to a source,” Pompey wrote.” However, another source said the Sixers will only make a deal that would be hard to pass up. As a result, teams around the league believe the Sixers are overvaluing Harris and asking for ‘outrageous packages in return,’ sources say.”

“Right now, the Sixers aren’t willing to trade him unless it drastically improves their team. But they’ll have opportunities to trade him if need be.”

Tobias Harris and his $39 million expiring contract with the Philadelphia 76ers was deemed the top offseason target for the Chicago Bulls by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey in a piece published June 23 following the 2023 NBA draft.

“Getting out from under a long-term contract like Zach LaVine’s (which runs through 2026-27), could kickstart such a reboot,” Bailey prefaced before saying, “And a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, who might convince themselves they’re one piece away, could use LaVine’s explosiveness. A trade involving him and Tobias Harris (whose deal ends in 2024) might make some sense.”

The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, set to begin on July 1, the first day of free agency, was designed to penalize teams that repeatedly find themselves above the luxury tax threshold. Expiring contracts are now some of the most valuable currency an NBA franchise could possess, making Harris’ deal one that teams will give up real assets for.

Bulls Star Would Fit ‘Beautifully’ With Sixers’ Joel Embiid

As Bailey would later explain, LaVine would fit “beautifully” with the Sixers should Philadelphia and Chicago both have interest in a swap sending Harris’ expiring money to the Bulls for the former UCLA star.

“Chicago may not have given any indication that it wants to rebuild yet, but Tobias Harris’ expiring contract would be an interesting place to start,” Bailey prefaced before saying, “And Zach LaVine’s explosive perimeter scoring ability would fit beautifully with Joel Embiid’s dominant post game. Both command a ton of defensive attention, and they command it at different areas of the floor. Opposing defenses would be stretched thin trying to cover both.”

More than likely, Joel Embiid and LaVine would have James Harden helping to run the show in the Sixers’ offense. Harden is likely to re-sign with Philadelphia instead of returning to the Houston Rockets, as has been heavily rumored, according to PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck.

“Harden returning to the Sixers on a team-friendly deal remains the focus of Philadelphia’s offseason, and it looks increasingly likely that they might be able to make that happen,” Neubeck said. “The Houston Rockets are Harden’s biggest suitor outside of Philadelphia, but the indication is that they are not willing to go over the top with years or dollars to sign him specifically.”

Zach LaVine Uninterested in Sixers’ Division Rival

As the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy reported, LaVine is uninterested in joining the Sixers’ Atlantic Division rivals, the New York Knicks, due to the presence of former CAA employee Leon Rose.

“Zach LaVine’s representatives would be against a deal to the Knicks, the Daily News has learned,” Bondy wrote. “The Bulls are reportedly gauging interest in the All-Star guard, which prompted speculation that the Knicks — who are strapped with future draft assets — would get involved. But a source said the LaVine camp isn’t interested in dealing with the Knicks, who have a reputation around the league of favoring clients of CAA, the agency that employed Leon Rose before his move to the Knicks front office.”

Though there are bigger priorities for them this summer, the Philadelphia 76ers could always use a reliable backup center for Joel Embiid. Ky Carlin of Sixer Wire floated three possible options the Sixers could look into. Chief among them being Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Reid had a really nice 2022-23 season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 34.6% from deep in 68 games. He is a physical player who can knock down a jumper. If the Sixers can get him for cheap, he should absolutely be a free-agent target,” Carlin wrote.

Carlin also mentioned Mason Plumlee as an option, citing his passing among the plusses he would bring to the Sixers.

Plumlee is a bit older (33), but he averaged 10.8 points and 8.9 rebounds combined for the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022-23. He’s listed as 6 feet, 11 inches, which adds size to the position. He’s an underrated passer who averaged 3.1 assists per game. And the appeal of contending for a title in Philadelphia could mean he comes cheap.”

The third option he mentioned was Mo Wagner, referencing Wagner’s shooting abilities as to why he would appeal to the Sixers.

“Wagner also stands 6 feet, 11 inches, and he averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Orlando Magic in 2022-23. He isn’t as physical as Plumlee, but he brings finesse to the game while being able to step out and knock down a 3-pointer. He is a reliable free-throw shooter, and the Sixers could use somebody like him off the bench.”

Wagner, coincidentally enough, played a failed Sixers draft pick in the 2022 Netflix movie Hustle.

Sixers Expected to Re-Sign Paul Reed

Though the Sixers could very well chase any of those three players, Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice reported that Sixers fan favorite Paul Reed is expected to re-sign with the team.

“Reed seems relatively likely to stay unless a team emerges willing to give him a true starter’s role, and has been spotted in the Sixers practice facility working out in recent weeks,” Neubeck wrote.

Reed emerged as the Sixers best backup center behind Embiid and has established himself as a Sixers fan favorite, earning him the nickname “Bball Paul.” Reed will enter the 2023 NBA Offseason as a restricted free agent.

Montrezl Harrell Opts Out of Contract

NBA Insider Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT reported on June 21 that Montrezl Harrell decided to opt out of the contract he signed with the Sixers last summer.

“Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell is declining his $2.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent,” Haynes wrote via his personal Twitter.

This doesn’t necessarily rule out Harrell returning to the Sixers, but it does pave the way for the Sixers to explore their other options on the free market. Harrell came in as Embiid’s initial primary backup, but over time he lost his role to Reed.

It is curious that Harrell opted out since he lost his role with the team mid-season. Either he left because he believed there was a chance for more money out there, or there was a bigger opportunity for him. Or both.

Rumors continue to buzz surrounding whether the Philadelphia 76ers will trade Tobias Harris or not. On June 21, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Indiana Pacers were among the teams interested in Harris.

In light of the Pacers’ reported interest, Philly Voice’s Kyle Neubeck previewed a deal between the Pacers and Sixers, floating Buddy Hield as a possible trade return for Harris.

“Sharpshooter Buddy Hield would bring real offensive juice to Philadelphia as a high-volume, quick-trigger shooter who can punish you as a stationary target or an off-movement player. His contract is also no longer problematic, with Hield’s deal expiring next summer after declining each year since he signed a $94 million pact with the Sacramento Kings,” Neubeck wrote.

Neubeck then added the issues that would come with acquiring Hield.

“But there are real fit concerns in Philly — Hield is an abhorrent defender that would join a James Harden/Tyrese Maxey backcourt already bursting with defensive leaks, putting even more stress on Joel Embiid to solve all problems on that end of the floor. You’re also losing on-ball utility by swapping Harris for Hield, who doesn’t offer much of a threat as a self-creator or a helper of others.”

Swapping Harris, who’s slated to make $39.3 million this season, for Hield, who’s slated to make $18.6 million, would save the Sixers plenty of money, but the skill tradeoff between the two may not make a swap worth it.

Trading Tobias Harris Could Help Sixers Keep James Harden

On June 21, Matt Moore of Action Network revealed how trading Tobias Harris could help the Sixers keep James Harden, adding which team he believes is the most likely trade destination for Harris.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore explained how the two sides would come to a deal, though he added that he’s not sure what either side wants.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

Dario Saric Named as Free Agent Target

While previewing who the Sixers could target in free agency this offseason, Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire named former Sixers lottery pick Dario Saric as a possible option.

“Why not reunite with Saric? The former Sixer has played for three teams since his initial stay in Philadelphia, but he shot 39.1% from deep after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2023 deadline. He is a skilled big man, he stretches the floor, he can rebound the ball, and he’s a skilled passer. A reunion with Saric would add more depth to the bench unit,” Carlin wrote.

The Sixers may have to consider if they go through with trading Harris.

Tobias Harris would return to his old team, the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Philadelphia 76ers returning three veteran depth pieces in a proposed mock trade from PhillyVoice’s Shamus Clancy. Those returning pieces include former Sixers forward Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, and Eric Gordon, while Furkan Korkmaz would also land with LA in Clancy’s scenario.

Clancy feels that Harris returning to the team he played his best basketball with on an expiring contract is the best case for him and the Clippers.

“Despite having all-world players in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the roster, Los Angeles is in need of a bit of a shakeup,” Clancy wrote. “Harris played his best ball ever with the Clippers and this is a soft reset of sorts with an exchange of expiring deals.”

As for the Sixers’ side of this transaction, Clancy noted that Philadelphia general manager Daryl Morey would be returning several former Houston Rockets teammates of impending free agent James Harden.

“When it comes to the Sixers, do you really think Daryl Morey is going to pass up a chance to get one of his former Rockets players in Gordon? Morey also signed Covington as an undrafted free agent in Houston in 2013 and traded for him in 2020,” Clancy prefaced before saying, “New head coach Nick Nurse could get creative with strong defensive lineups with forwards Covington and P.J. Tucker who, in theory, should be shooting threats from the corners.”

‘Nothing Imminent’ on Tobias Harris Trade Front For Sixers

While Harris trade scenarios are perhaps the most common amongst any Sixers player, there’s no guarantee he will be moved. As Liberty Ballers’ Paul Hudrick reported, there’s “nothing imminent” on the Harris trade front.

“There’s nothing imminent on Harris and the chances of him moving ahead of the draft are low, per a league source,” Hudrick said. “Apparently the Sixers share the view that Harris should be seen as a positive asset and will only look to move the veteran forward in a deal that makes sense for them.”

The Sixers could be in a better position to extract maximum value out of Harris by waiting until the 2024 trade deadline. As Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, it could take an offer that’s “hard to pass up” for Morey to part with Harris.

Tobias Harris Deemed By Analyst a Bad Fit For Pacers

One team included in Pompey’s report about teams with an interest in Harris is the Indiana Pacers — but 8 Points, 9 Seconds’ Joe Lyon believes Harris’ fit in the Hoosier State wouldn’t be a good one.

“He would be a complete mismatch for the current timeline of the team,” Lyon prefaced before saying, “Harris is currently 30 years old and clearly on the back nine of his career. This is exactly the type of player that the Pacers need to avoid.”

Lyon doesn’t see Harris as the final piece to get the Pacers over the top given his massive contract and mismatched profile as a veteran on the wrong side of 30 alongside young players on cheap deals.

“Harris is a bloated contract that the Pacers don’t need,” Lyon wrote. “(The Pacers) currently have a ton of young guys on good contracts and Harris doesn’t fit the bill for the final piece in order to put a winning team together.”

The Philadelphia 76ers have two intriguing plotlines going on this offseason – whether they’ll be able to keep James Harden in free agency and what they’ll do with Tobias Harris’ expiring contract. Matt Moore of Action Network revealed that these two subplots could very well be connected.

Moore revealed that what will help the Sixers make room to pay Harden this offseason will depend on them trading Harris while revealing who could be interested.

“The way for the Sixers to make room to re-sign James Harden to whatever deal he’s amenable to is to trade Harris.

“The Kings have long been thought to be the most likely landing spot for Harris, not only because of the pre-existing relationship between Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Kings GM Monte McNair but also with the Kings looking for a small forward alternative to Harrison Barnes.”

Moore outlined how a deal would come to fruition.

“IF Harden decides to stay in Philly and IF the Kings don’t manage a trade for OG Anunoby (which again looks unlikely), then the Kings and Sixers could work out a deal for Harris. It’s not known what either side wants to include in such a deal (at least by yours truly).”

The Kings could offer Richaun Holmes and/or Kevin Huerter for Harris, among other pieces, but it remains to be seen if the Kings would be comfortable with that or if that’d be along the lines of what the Sixers would want in return for Harris.

Tobias Harris Named as an Option for Pacers

In his June 20 NBA mock draft, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony floated Harris among the options the Indiana Pacers could potentially look into.

“The Pacers trading for a veteran such as Tobias Harris, De’Andre Hunter, or Dorian Finney-Smith is an option that could be explored as well,” Givony wrote.

Even though his contract is expiring, Harris is owed $39.3 million for the upcoming season, which would make it expensive for anyone to acquire. Because Harris is a proven scorer at the wing position, he could have plenty of suitors.

While the Sixers could get rid of Harris to save enough money to keep Harden, they could also use his deal to get more rotation players who give them better depth.

Tobias Harris’ Other Suitors

Besides the Kings and the Pacers, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported who else has called about Harris on June 21.

“The Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers have made inquiries about Harris’ availability, according to a source. However, another source said the Sixers will only make a deal that would be hard to pass up. As a result, teams around the league believe the Sixers are overvaluing Harris and asking for ‘outrageous packages in return,'” Pompey wrote.

Pompey added that the Sixers won’t trade him for the sake of trading him but rather for a deal that makes them better.

“Right now, the Sixers aren’t willing to trade him unless it drastically improves their team. But they’ll have opportunities to trade him if need be.”

Pompey concluded by revealing what the future may hold between Harris and the Sixers.

“Contrary to public belief, the Sixers believe Harris is a solid fit for new coach Nick Nurse, who has had success with versatile forwards. If things don’t work out, the Sixers will have other opportunities to trade Harris before the 2024 trade deadline. If things go well, they could look to re-sign him at a more realistic rate once he becomes a free agent next summer.”

On top of James Harden, the Philadelphia 76ers will have multiple players who will enter free agency. Among their other free agents who will hit the market this summer, Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice reported which one is the most likely to find a new team this summer.

“Philadelphia has a free-agent quartet outside of Harden to manage this offseason: Paul Reed, Jalen McDaniels, Georges Niang, and Shake Milton. Milton is the least likely of those players to return next season, sources say, as the veteran guard looks for a potential opportunity for more minutes (this could change if Harden were to walk in free agency),” Neubeck wrote.

Milton has been with the Sixers since 2018. Despite being the longest-tenured Sixers outside of Joel Embiid, he did not have much of a role on the team during the 2023 playoffs, as most of his minutes came when the games had already been decided.

Perhaps he would get a bigger role should he come back if Harden in fact leaves, but for obvious reasons, the Sixers are much more focused on keeping Harden knowing his importance to the team.

Sixers More Optimistic That James Harden Will Re-Sign

On June 19, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Harden’s chances of re-signing with the Sixers aren’t as bad as previously assumed, going as far as saying the Sixers have become more confident in his return.

“For the Sixers, a return to Philadelphia doesn’t seem as bleak as it did a month ago. There’s varying levels of belief that Harden could re-sign with the Sixers, depending on who you talk to. Sources have said the Sixers are more optimistic that he’ll re-sign.”

Pompey explained the contract that the Sixers would be willing to offer Harden.

“The Sixers are not willing to hinder the team’s short- or long-term future by overpaying for Harden. The prevailing thought is a deal in the two-year range would be ideal for the 14-year veteran.”

Though Harden returning appears to grow stronger as a possibility, Pompey reiterated that Harden is interested in returning to the Houston Rockets.

“Sources have said Harden’s interest in returning to Houston is mutual and not a ploy to get a lucrative deal out of the Sixers.”

Dario Saric Floated as Sixers Free Agent Target

While talking about possible frontcourt additions that could help the Sixers, Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire explained why Philly should chase Dario Saric as a free agent.

“Why not reunite with Saric? The former Sixer has played for three teams since his initial stay in Philadelphia, but he shot 39.1% from deep after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2023 deadline. He is a skilled big man, he stretches the floor, he can rebound the ball, and he’s a skilled passer. A reunion with Saric would add more depth to the bench unit,” Carlin wrote.

While not originally drafted by the Sixers, the team traded for his draft rights during the 2014 NBA Draft. Saric came over to the NBA in 2016 and played for the Sixers until 2018 when he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Saric not only is a career 36% shooter from deep, but he would also bring familiarity to the team due to his experience with Joel Embiid.

With the NBA Draft coming up on June 22, plenty of teams could be looking for help, and not just via the draft. Teams like the Indiana Pacers could look into trading for some veteran help. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony floated multiple options they could look into in his June 20 mock draft, including Philadelphia 76ers starter Tobias Harris.

“The Pacers trading for a veteran such as Tobias Harris, De’Andre Hunter, or Dorian Finney-Smith is an option that could be explored as well,” Givony wrote.

The Pacers have the No. 7 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but giving that up for Harris seems a little steep, knowing that Harris’ contract is expiring after next season. However, they also have No. 26 and No. 29 picks in the draft, thanks to the trades they made with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, respectively.

Those assets could be floated in a possible deal for Harris, though the Sixers may want established veteran talent in exchange for Harris instead of young players on rookie contracts, knowing that their current goals are to win a title.

Insider Expects Tobias Harris to Be Traded

On June 18, Matt Moore of Action Network gave his thoughts on things will go down in the offseason, which included his strong belief that Harris will be among the players who will play for a new team next season.

“Tobias Harris for the Sixers and Tyus Jones for the Grizzlies are two players I am confident will be on new teams by the end of the summer,” Moore wrote.

Harris sadly has not fit very well on the Sixers from Day One, and being paid $180 million for the role he plays has made his underwhelming performance stand out like a sore thumb. Now that he’s expiring, it’s feasible that the Sixers could trade him for teams looking to clear up their salary cap.

With the $39.3 million he’s slated to make next season, the Sixers could potentially turn him into another star if they want, or multiple players who would give them more depth and fit the roster better than him.

Sixers Not Rushing Into Tobias Harris Trade

Despite Harris’ name being floated around in multiple trades, Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice reported on June 20 that the Sixers aren’t discussing a trade at the moment and are in no rush to make a deal.

“One source familiar with the Sixers’ thinking urged caution when asked if a deal for Harris could materialize this week, suggesting there was no real traction on a deal at present and that the team wouldn’t rush into a deal just to trade Harris for the sake of it,” Neubeck wrote.

Neubeck added that the Sixers have confidence that they will have opportunities to trade Harris later on and won’t trade him just for the sake of trading him unless there are long-term benefits.

“While shifting trade rules will alter their options after July 1st, the Sixers believe they’ll have multiple windows (the draft, the pre-camp period, and the pre-deadline period) to explore potential trades and won’t commit to dealing Harris unless it improves Philadelphia’s flexibility or top-end ceiling.”

On top of what will already be on their plate this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers also have to consider who else they can add to their frontcourt. With free agency coming up, Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire proposed that the Sixers go after former lottery pick Dario Saric to add to their frontcourt.

“Why not reunite with Saric? The former Sixer has played for three teams since his initial stay in Philadelphia, but he shot 39.1% from deep after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2023 deadline. He is a skilled big man, he stretches the floor, he can rebound the ball, and he’s a skilled passer. A reunion with Saric would add more depth to the bench unit,” Carlin wrote.

The Sixers technically did not draft Saric, as he was drafted No. 12 by the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to the Sixers. Saric did not come over to the NBA until 2016, where he would then play for the Sixers for a little over two years before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018.

Since then, he has bounced from the Timberwolves to the Phoenix Suns to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In that time, Saric has established himself as a dependable – not remarkable – stretch big, as he is a career 36% shooter from deep.

Seth Curry Floated as Sixers Free Agent Target

Saric is not the only former Sixer that Carlin believes the Sixers should target. He also explained why he believes the Sixers should take a look at Seth Curry as a free agent target. Carlin explained how Curry could help while adding how Curry’s friends are on the team, which could factor into a possible reunion.

“Why not bring him back? Curry is an excellent shooter who can space the floor and give Embiid and Harden (if he returns) everything they need to produce. He dealt with some injuries in the 2022-23 season, but he still shot 40.5% from deep for the Brooklyn Nets. He has a good relationship with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and it will be interesting to see how he would fit in with this group.”

Curry’s abilities as a three-point shooter should make him a hot commodity on the open market. The question is how much his interested suitors will be willing to offer him.

Sixers Expected to Trade Tobias Harris

It’s very possible the Sixers may not look to free agency for more help but rather through trades. NBA Insider Matt Moore of Action Network revealed on June 18 that he expects the Sixers to trade one of their starters this offseason.

“Tobias Harris for the Sixers and Tyus Jones for the Grizzlies are two players I am confident will be on new teams by the end of the summer,” Moore wrote.

Harris’ $39.3 million expiring contract could look really appealing for a team looking for cap relief. The Sixers have had most of their assets stripped from them thanks to the James Harden trade, and they likely wouldn’t get a player of equal value for Harris.

What they could get out of Harris’ contract is getting multiple players who would fit on the team better than him, which would give the team more depth. Harris has never quite fit well with the Sixers, and his scoring abilities aren’t as needed with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and James Harden (potentially) on the team next season.

With every passing day comes more details about James Harden‘s free agency and whether the Philadelphia 76ers will be able to retain him. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the latest details on Harden’s free agency on June 19, saying that there’s more optimism that he’ll stick with the team.

“For the Sixers, a return to Philadelphia doesn’t seem as bleak as it did a month ago. There’s varying levels of belief that Harden could re-sign with the Sixers, depending on who you talk to. Sources have said the Sixers are more optimistic that he’ll re-sign.”

Pompey added that the Sixers are not going to commit to the maximum number of years to keep Harden while previewing the length they would be comfortable with.

“The Sixers are not willing to hinder the team’s short- or long-term future by overpaying for Harden. The prevailing thought is a deal in the two-year range would be ideal for the 14-year veteran.”

Despite the optimism, Pompey said that the Houston Rockets are still very much a threat to sign him.

“Sources have said Harden’s interest in returning to Houston is mutual and not a ploy to get a lucrative deal out of the Sixers.”

Pompey did not say it, but it’s also very possible that they, too, are more comfortable giving Harden the same number of years as the Sixers.

Executives Believe James Harden Will Stay

Nothing is official until it’s official, but Zach Lowe revealed on “The Lowe Post” on June 19 that there is a growing belief among executives that Harden will stay with the Sixers.

“The breaks have now been pumped, like slammed on, around the league to the point that I bet if you poll 50 front office executives, the majority of them would guess he’s going back to Philly. I don’t know what the hell is going to happen. We’ll see.”

This has been a massive 180 from what the narrative had been for months. Various reports said that Harden was expected to go to the Rockets. Pompey himself reported as such on May 19 that the belief around the league was that Harden would return to his former team.

James Harden Has ‘Renewed Interest’ in Staying

NBA Insider Marc Stein reported on June 17 that Harden has rediscovered his interest in staying with the Sixers, citing his history with President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey as a factor in his upcoming decision.

“There have been some rumbles this week that, despite the undeniably strong lure that a return to Houston holds for Harden, he is said to be giving renewed consideration to staying put. There is a loyalty factor for Harden to weigh after Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey spent the bulk of his first 15 months in the City of Brotherly Love trying to acquire him, finally succeeding in February 2022,” Stein wrote on his Substack.

From the very beginning, the Rockets’ interest in Harden didn’t make much sense outside of their history with him. The Rockets are rebuilding and have the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Signing the 33-year-old Harden – who will be 34 before the 2023-24 season starts – complicates their timeline since their roster is full of young players.

Some big changes could be on the horizon for the Philadelphia 76ers. While many have their eyes on James Harden’s free agency, Matt Moore of Action Network believes the Sixers have some plans in store for starting forward Tobias Harris.

Moore named Harris among the two players who he believes will find new homes this offseason.

“Tobias Harris for the Sixers and Tyus Jones for the Grizzlies are two players I am confident will be on new teams by the end of the summer,” Moore wrote.’

Harris $39.3 million expiring contract provides a unique situation for the Sixers this summer. Harris has been an awkward fit with the team from the very get-go, which only makes him stand out worse as a player, knowing what the Sixers are paying him.

Now that he is expiring, the Sixers have the rare chance to swap him for more depth to round out their rotation, which played a role in why they failed to make it past the Eastern Conference Finals. They may not get a player as good as Harris is on paper, but they could get someone who fits the team’s scheme better than he could.

Sixers Not Expected to Trade for Fred VanVleet & Bradley Beal

On Jun 15, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed that the Sixers are not interested in at least two stars as possible replacements for James Harden – Fred VanVleet and Bradley Beal.

Fischer explained why they don’t see VanVleet as an option despite his experience with Nick Nurse.

“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019.”

Before Beal was traded to the Phoenix Suns, Fischer said that the Sixers were not expected to go after Beal whether Harden elects to return or not.

“The Philadelphia 76ers…are also not expected to target Beal, league sources told Yahoo Sports, regardless of whether Harden decides to remain with the franchise.”

For them to pull a trade like that off for either of them, it would likely require using Harris’ contract. It’s also a possibility that they wouldn’t consider them because they like their chances of keeping Harden.

‘Loyalty Factor’ May Lead to Sixers Retaining James Harden

The Sixers have only continued to get encouraging news regarding Harden’s future with the team. On June 17, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that Harden has renewed interest in staying with Philly, but that loyalty may play a part in why he stays.

“There have been some rumbles this week that, despite the undeniably strong lure that a return to Houston holds for Harden, he is said to be giving renewed consideration to staying put. There is a loyalty factor for Harden to weigh after Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey spent the bulk of his first 15 months in the City of Brotherly Love trying to acquire him, finally succeeding in February 2022,” Stein wrote on his Substack.

While Harden sticking around sounds more and more likely, the Sixers also have to consider how much they want to pay him and for how long.

With free agency only weeks away, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a decision to make with James Harden. Not just if they’ll be able to keep him or not, but how much they are willing to pay to keep him. On June 17, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that not only is Harden now strongly considering going back to Philly, but explained why loyalty plays a part.

“There have been some rumbles this week that, despite the undeniably strong lure that a return to Houston holds for Harden, he is said to be giving renewed consideration to staying put. There is a loyalty factor for Harden to weigh after Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey spent the bulk of his first 15 months in the City of Brotherly Love trying to acquire him, finally succeeding in February 2022,” Stein wrote on his Substack.

Morey hit two birds with one stone when he acquired Harden, having not only gotten the former MVP who he had success with on the Houston Rockets, but also traded malcontent Ben Simmons in the process. Again, what may be the final factor is how much he and the Sixers are willing to pay to keep Harden for how long.

Bill Simmons Calls James Harden’s Return ‘Probable’

Bill Simmons also revealed that it is appearing more and more likely that Harden will return to the Sixers this summer.

On the June 16 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Simmons revealed that Harden’s return is the reason why the Sixers are not pursuing Bradley Beal.

“I’ll tell you this. Heard last night from a little birdie – Harden going back to Philly is way more realistic and probable than everyone’s giving it credit for, including myself, up until yesterday when I heard about this. Because everyone was like, ‘Oh, he’s going to Houston.’ There’s been some Philly buzz, and I think that’s one of the reasons why they’re not in the Beal sweepstakes.”

The Sixers could also hypothetically have both of them, but if what Simmons says is true, then Harden’s decision to remain with the team evidently makes them feel that adding Beal wouldn’t be necessary.

Sixers Not Interested in Fred VanVleet, Bradley Beal

On June 15, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed that even if Harden leaves, the Sixers are not expected to chase Beal or Fred VanVleet as his replacement.

Fischer wrote that the Sixers wouldn’t be interested in VanVleet despite his connections to Sixers head coach Nick Nurse.

“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019.”

Fischer added that Sixers aren’t interested in Beal even if Harden returns to the team.

“The Philadelphia 76ers…are also not expected to target Beal, league sources told Yahoo Sports, regardless of whether Harden decides to remain with the franchise.”

These report could also indicate that the Sixers aren’t planning to add a Harden replacement because they won’t have to should Harden re-sign with the team.

James Harden lands with the New Orleans Pelicans while Zion Williamson is paired with reigning MVP Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers in a proposed trade from ESPN’s Andre Snellings, whose scenario is as follows:

Philadelphia 76ers get: Williamson ($33M this year), Larry Nance Jr. ($10M this year), Garrett Temple ($5M), Trey Murphy III ($3M)

New Orleans Pelicans get: James Harden (currently $33M before opt out; Harden must agree to sign-and-trade), P.J. Tucker ($10.5M), Mac McClung (qualifying offer), two 2024 second-round picks (76ers’ and Knicks’ picks)

If the Sixers were to pull off such a trade, Snellings believes the new supersized Philadelphia frontcourt would have the highest ceiling in the NBA.

“If the 76ers can pair Williamson with Embiid and a strong supporting cast featuring Maxey, Murphy, De’Anthony Melton and Tobias Harris, the 76ers would have the highest ceiling in the NBA,” Snellings wrote.

As for the Big Easy portion of this blockbuster, Snellings believes the deal would open the floor up for Pelicans star Brandon Ingram while also providing additional scoring opportunities for “The Beard.”

“Brandon Ingram is an All-Star, but the fit with Williamson isn’t ideal because both are combo forwards who like to operate with the ball in their hands,” Snellings wrote. “While Ingram would be the foundational young star of the Pels, he doesn’t have the usage requirements of Joel Embiid, which would open up additional scoring opportunities for Harden.”

P.J. Tucker Gives Pelicans Firepower to Compete in West

A more understated aspect of Snellings’ deal is the Pelicans landing 38-year-old forward P.J. Tucker; who the ESPN writer feels would give New Orleans the “firepower and the size to compete with any team in the West,” before putting the defending NBA Champions, the Denver Nuggets, on notice.

“Tucker is a tough-minded, defensive veteran to fit into the Pelicans frontcourt rotation next to Jonas Valanciunas and Herbert Jones,” Snellings prefaced before saying, “That team would have both the firepower and the size to compete with any team in the West, including the Denver Nuggets.”

Tucker has elevated teams like the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Houston Rockets to contender status in recent seasons, so such pronounced faith from Snellings in the forward isn’t misplaced.

James Harden Returning to Sixers ‘Favorite in the Clubhouse’

While Harden departure rumors have been a staple of the 2023 Sixers offseason, CBS Sports’ Colin Ward-Henninger believes that the guard’s return to Philadelphia is a “favorite in the clubhouse.”

“Despite his playoff failures, Harden has been productive as the 76ers’ point guard, leading the NBA in assists last season while putting up 21 points per game on his best 3-point shooting since his last OKC season back in 2012,” Snellings prefaced before saying, “The chatter about Harden heading back to Houston has been loud and consistent, but returning to Philadelphia with new head coach Nick Nurse is probably the favorite in the clubhouse.”

Harden was reportedly a “driving force” behind Doc Rivers’ dismissal as Sixers head coach according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, so the return of “The Beard” is the only thing separating the franchise from a potential avalanche of bad PR if Embiid is offended by Harden having any sway on who the coach is despite not being under contract long-term.

With the Bradley Beal sweepstakes underway, Bill Simmons explained that the Philadelphia 76ers will not be among the participants because it appears that James Harden‘s return to the team is likely.

Simmons revealed the likelihood of Harden returning to the Sixers on the June 16 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast.”

“I’ll tell you this. Heard last night from a little birdie – Harden going back to Philly is way more realistic and probable than everyone’s giving it credit for, including myself, up until yesterday when I heard about this. Because everyone was like, ‘Oh, he’s going to Houston.’ There’s been some Philly buzz, and I think that’s one of the reasons why they’re not in the Beal sweepstakes.”

There is a scenario where the Sixers could have Harden and Beal on the same team, as they could use Tobias Harris, Danuel House, and Montrezl Harrell’s expiring contracts to match Beal’s, among other assets to offer. However, having Harden and Beal on the team could prove to be redundant since both play similar positions and have similar skillsets.

Sixers Not Expected to Target Fred VanVleet & Bradley Beal

On June 15, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed that the Sixers aren’t expected to target Fred VanVleet or Beal even if Harden leaves this summer.

Fischer revealed that the Sixers won’t go after VanVleet despite his connections to head coach Nick Nurse

“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019.”

Fischer added that they won’t go after Beal either, regardless of Harden’s decision.

“The Philadelphia 76ers…are also not expected to target Beal, league sources told Yahoo Sports, regardless of whether Harden decides to remain with the franchise.”

The fact there have been multiple reports revealing that the Sixers have no interest in Beal – on top of Fischer’s report that they don’t plan to chase VanVleet – could also signify how confident they are that Harden will return to the team this offseason.

Why the Sixers Aren’t Interested in Bradley Beal

Following Shams Charania’s report on June 14 that Beal and the Washington Wizards plan to work together to find Beal a new team, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported not only that the Sixers won’t be among Beal’s suitors but explained why the Sixers won’t be interested in him.

“It’s my understanding the Sixers probably will not be a suitor for Bradley Beal. He has a big contract for a lot of money & with the new CBA with aprons that does not allow for much flexibility for roster building. And Sixers believe Tyrese Maxey can be an All-Star caliber player,” Clark wrote via his personal Twitter on June 14.

Beal will be paid 46.7 million this coming season, and that will only go higher season by season leading up to the 2026-27 season, where he will be paid upwards of $57 million if he exercises his player option. As Reynolds said, the Sixers likely won’t want to pay that because of the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Ascending Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is off limits in any hypothetical Zach LaVine trade talks according to PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck — who feels that the only way the Sixers would land LaVine is via a bargain bin deal; ultimately making Neubeck skeptical about the viability of such a trade on Philadelphia’s end.

“On the Sixers’ end, I think (a LaVine trade) only really makes sense if they’re getting a bargain basement price and holding onto Tyrese Maxey in the process,” Neubeck prefaced before saying, “Even if they can’t, I’m not exactly convinced that bringing on talented players on awful contracts is the way to right this ship.”

The Chicago Bulls are on the hook for the four seasons remaining on his five-year, $215 million contract, and could desire Tobias Harris’ expiring contract. What then becomes the critical question is whether or not the Bulls would be willing to give up their two-time All-Star for what would amount to a salary dump. Doing so would signal a firesale that’d likely require Chicago to trade off pieces like DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso as well, while potentially passing up on re-signing former Sixers big man Nikola Vucevic.

Sixers Ideal No. 1 Offseason is Bringing Back James Harden

Neubeck believes the Sixers bringing back James Harden would be the “ideal” No. 1 offseason and believes that until a decision is made by “The Beard” either way, any trade rumor is merely “discussion fodder.”

“Let it be said for perhaps the 25th time already this offseason — Philadelphia’s ideal No. 1 offseason is bringing Harden back on a team-friendly contract, and that has been their focus,” Neubeck prefaced before saying, “Until or unless that possibility is ruled out, all of these fantasy team type trades are just that, and this is just discussion fodder.”

As Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reports, the Sixers’ focus is indeed to bring Harden back this offseason; but to a short-term deal that avoids what the Washington Wizards are currently facing with Bradley Beal’s contract.

“Philadelphia has made it clear the Sixers are focused on re-signing Harden, who has until June 29 to decline a $35 million player option for next year,” Fischer wrote. “Similar to last summer, it appears that Philadelphia would prefer to sign Harden to a shorter-term agreement, one that still provides a lucrative payday for the 10-time All-Star but doesn’t present the Sixers with the possible predicament that Washington currently faces with Beal’s long-term salary.”

Zach LaVine Would Be ‘Powerful’ Joel Embiid Complement

Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation believes LaVine would make for a good complement to Embiid and thinks the Sixers would do well to engage the Bulls in trade talks.

“Not only could (LaVine) provide the MVP with some secondary scoring assistance, but he’d give Philly a powerful perimeter scoring game to pair with (Joel) Embiid’s interior dominance,” Schuster wrote in a June 6 opinion piece. “It’s not hard to see a world where these two lead one of the more efficient and explosive offenses in the NBA.”

Neubeck thinks the opposite; that LaVine would be a poor fit due to his lack of defensive tenacity and score-first mentality.

“(LaVine) has real issues that would be amplified here in Philadelphia, namely that he is lost at sea on defense a lot of the time and slots in only as a secondary playmaker,” Neubeck prefaced before saying, “Combining multiple half-creators into one full option isn’t the sort of thing that tends to win basketball games.”

Following yet another playoff loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Philadelphia 76ers will be on the lookout for more help, potentially with guard depth. Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire floated one free agent guard who could assist with the Sixers’ guard depth – Jevon Carter.

Carlin explained why Carter would fit well in the Sixers’ second unit.

“Carter is a tough-minded veteran guard who averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 42.1% from deep. He does all of the little things, and there is a school of thought that the Bucks will keep him in tow, but Philadelphia could use another guard off its bench. Carter would be a great fit,” Carlin wrote.

Adding onto that, Carter’s scoring average during the 2022-23 season was a career-high from him, which was helped by playing the highest minute average of his career, as he played 22.3 minutes a game.

Carter’s role with the Bucks lessened over the course of their first-round series against the Miami Heat, but for that very reason, that could make him come at an affordable price.

Sixers Not Expected to Target Fred VanVleet or Bradley Beal

Despite the possibility that James Harden could leave this summer, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed that two players who could have new teams this offseason – Fred VanVleet and Bradley Beal – are not seen by the Sixers as candidates to replace Harden should he leave.

Fischer first revealed that VanVleet is not expected to be on the Sixers’ radar even if Harden departs.

“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019.”

Fischer then revealed that Beal is in the same boat with the Sixers, even if Harden decides to stay.

“The Philadelphia 76ers…are also not expected to target Beal, league sources told Yahoo Sports, regardless of whether Harden decides to remain with the franchise.”

It appears the Sixers won’t pounce on replacing Harden’s replacement should that be how things play out. At least not right away.

James Harden’s Return to Rockets ‘Increasingly Uncertain’

While previewing who the Houston Rockets will take with the no. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo revealed on June 14 that rival teams in the NBA are seeing Harden’s return to his former team as less and less of a certainty.

“One potential factor in the decision is James Harden’s potential return to the Rockets — a situation that rival teams have come to view as increasingly uncertain in recent weeks,” Woo wrote.

The question is whether this is good or bad for the Sixers. On the one hand, the Rockets becoming less and less of a possibility for Harden may very well lower Harden’s price this offseason. On the other, Harden did not show up for the Sixers in the postseason when they needed him to – having scored nine points on three-for-11 shooting from the field with five turnovers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Sixers have to ask themselves if it’s worth paying good money for someone who has not come through for them in their most vital playoff games.

Despite the possibility that James Harden may leave the Philadelphia 76ers, and despite that Fred VanVleet has a rapport with Sixers head coach Nick Nurse during their time with the Toronto Raptors, it appears that the Sixers aren’t interested in reuniting Nurse with VanVleet even if Harden walks.

NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports revealed that Sixers won’t go after VanVleet even if Harden winds up leaving.

“But Philadelphia, sources said, is not expected to target Fred VanVleet in the event Harden departs via free agency, despite the obvious connection to new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, who won a championship with VanVleet in Toronto in 2019.”

VanVleet’s not the only star player who the Sixers don’t plan to go after, even if Harden leaves. Fischer added that the Sixers are not interested in Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal.

“The Philadelphia 76ers…are also not expected to target Beal, league sources told Yahoo Sports, regardless of whether Harden decides to remain with the franchise.”

Despite the potential loss of Harden, which may not happen regardless, it appears the Sixers will not rush to add anyone to fill the void left by him.

Insider Reveals Why Sixers Aren’t Interested in Bradley Beal

Fischer was not the only one who refuted the Sixers’ possible interest in acquiring Beal. John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia said the same thing, adding that the Sixers’ faith in Tyrese Maxey, as well as Beal’s floated contract being a burden on their salary cap, are why they don’t want to acquire Beal.

“It’s my understanding the Sixers probably will not be a suitor for Bradley Beal. He has a big contract for a lot of money & with the new CBA with aprons that does not allow for much flexibility for roster building. And Sixers believe Tyrese Maxey can be an All-Star caliber player,” Clark said via his personal Twitter on June 15.

Beal will be paid $46.7 million this upcoming season, and that will spike up potentially to $57.1 million by the 2026-27 season should Beal opt into the last year of his deal. That’s a lot of money shelled out to someone who has made three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team in his career.

76ers ‘Not Desperate’ to Re-Sign James Harden

Losing Harden could be problematic for the Sixers, as they can’t simply replace him with another star via free agency. Despite that, it appears they aren’t too desperate to keep the 2018 NBA MVP, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Windhorst said on NBA Today that the Sixers want Harden back, but because of the other options they have, they aren’t hellbent on keeping Harden at all costs.

“The Sixers are not desperate,” Windhorst said. “While they absolutely want James Harden back, and I think there’s a way they can play together and still be highly successful, the Sixers have other moves they can make. If Harden walks, they have cap space. They have tradeable contracts. They have things they can do. Harden is important but not the end-all and be-all for the 76ers.”

This may speak volumes for how far Harden’s value may have fallen as a free agent, but only free agency will determine what kind of contract he gets on the open market.

With Doc Rivers no longer coaching the Philadelphia 76ers, he has been free to talk about his time with the team. He did just that while talking on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on June 13, where he talked a lot about the Sixers, including his thoughts on the league’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid.

While talking with Simmons, Rivers gave Embiid some harsh critiques as a player, believing that Embiid has a few things to improve on, starting with his health.

“Number one, he has to be healthy,” Rivers said about Embiid. “If you look at his numbers in the last three years in the playoffs, compared to his regular season numbers, they’re not very good…The first year I had him, he hurts his knee. The next year, he hits his face and tears ligaments in his hand, and then this year he has a knee injury and he was never the same once he came back this year. So health is No. 1.”

Rivers added that Embiid had to work on making his teammates better.

“Number two for Jo is he’s got to make all his players better in the playoffs,” Rivers said. “He has the ability to make his teammates better and when he does it, if you look at our games this year when he did that and dominated, hard to go away from Joel Embiid. It really is. He’s just got to do that on a consistent basis. Not just on the court, but also off the court. Just be around the guys and spend time with your guys and let them know that you love them because they love you.”

Rivers coached Embiid for three years before the Sixers fired him on May 16.

Doc Rivers Says Coaching James Harden Was ‘Challenging’

Rivers also told Simmons that it was difficult coaching James Harden because of how different their approaches were to basketball.

“It was challenging. More because we were fighting two things, and not like visually fighting. James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways, is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball, and coming back to the ball,” Rivers told Simmons.

Rivers elaborated on how hard it was to coach Harden, saying the Sixers got worse when Harden tried to score more.

“At times, to get him to move and play the way I needed him to play [was challenging]. I thought the first half of the year, we were the best team in the game. I thought James was playing perfect basketball. He was a point guard of the team. He was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. And then the second half, he started scoring more, and I thought we got more stagnant at times.”

James Harden Going to Rocket Seen as ‘Uncertain’

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo revealed on June 14 that the Houston Rockets‘ draft decision will hinge on Harden’s decision, which rivals believe is becoming less and less certain.

“One potential factor in the decision is James Harden’s potential return to the Rockets — a situation that rival teams have come to view as increasingly uncertain in recent weeks,” Woo wrote.

This could be big news for the Sixers if their hopes are to keep him at an affordable price.

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to get encouraging news regarding James Harden’s free agency. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo revealed that the Houston Rockets‘ draft decision may depend on what happens with Harden while also revealing that going to his former team is far from a foregone conclusion.

“One potential factor in the decision is James Harden’s potential return to the Rockets — a situation that rival teams have come to view as increasingly uncertain in recent weeks,” Woo wrote.

The increasing uncertainty surrounding Harden going back to the Rockets could play well for the Sixers. Not just because they could re-sign him, but they may not have to pay top dollar for him if their competitors aren’t completely sold on bringing him in on a max contract.

Harden will turn 34 before the 2023-24 season begins and is coming off yet another disappointing playoff run, which may or may not have affected how interested parties see his worth on the open market.

Doc Rivers Says Coaching James Harden Was ‘Challenging’

Former Sixers head coach Doc Rivers talked about his time with the team on the June 13 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” which included what it was like to coach Harden.

Rivers delved into how hard it was to coach Harden, believing that the two of them had different approaches to basketball.

“It was challenging. More because we were fighting two things, and not like visually fighting. James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways, is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball, and coming back to the ball,” Rivers told Simmons.

Rivers added that the Sixers played at their best when Harden balanced himself well as a scorer and playmaker, then started to decline when that balance changed.

“At times, to get him to move and play the way I needed him to play [was challenging]. I thought the first half of the year, we were the best team in the game. I thought James was playing perfect basketball. He was a point guard of the team. He was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. And then the second half, he started scoring more, and I thought we got more stagnant at times.”

Chris Paul-James Harden Trade Has ‘Circulated’

Even though the teams linked most to Harden this offseason have been the Sixers and the Rockets, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that a potential trade involving Harden and his former teammate, Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns, has been brought up.

“There’s the idea of Phoenix exchanging Paul for James Harden, which has quietly circulated around some league personnel since the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago,” Fischer wrote on June 9. “A reunion between Harden and Durant makes for great fodder, and the bearded point guard could feasibly pick up his 2023-24 player option on the condition Philadelphia trades him to the Suns.”

Fischer added that Paul himself did something like that before, but doing so may not be the best financial choice for Harden.

“You may remember Paul pulled that exact maneuver to join Harden in Houston in 2017. Harden, though, stands to gain quite a bit more financially from either staying pat with the 76ers or returning to the Rockets and their $60-plus million in-waiting cap space.”

A new option may have just potentially emerged for the Philadelphia 76ers. Following the report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Josh Robbins that NBA star Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards are working together to trade him to a new team, the Sixers could look into acquiring him.

However, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia refuted the notion that the Sixers would pursue Beal because of what would have to be offered along with the restrictions of the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“It’s my understanding the Sixers probably will not be a suitor for Bradley Beal. He has a big contract for a lot of money & with the new CBA with aprons that does not allow for much flexibility for roster building. And Sixers believe Tyrese Maxey can be an All-Star caliber player,” Clark said via his personal Twitter.

Even if the Sixers were interested in Beal, he has a no-trade clause, meaning that he gets to decide whether a trade goes through or not. On top of that, Beal will be owed $46.7 million, so the Sixers would have to combine quite a few contracts to make a potential trade for Beal work.

Proposed Trade Sends Sixers Bradley Beal & Tobias Harris

On June 1, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed a trade that would not only send Beal to the Sixers but also send some additional help from the Wizards.

Swartz proposed the following trade.

Washington Wizards Receive: G Tyrese Maxey, F Tobias Harris, SG Furkan Korkmaz, F Danuel House Jr., 2029 first-round pick

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: SG Bradley Beal, F Kyle Kuzma (via sign-and-trade)

Swartz explained why the Sixers would potentially look into trading for Beal.

“With a new front office in Washington, we could finally see a Beal trade after 11 years with the franchise.

“This deal only goes down if James Harden leaves the 76ers in free agency, opening up the need for another All-Star guard to join the backcourt. Beal and Kuzma restock the Sixers with talent around Joel Embiid, keeping them in the title hunt,” Swartz wrote.

Since it appears the Sixers are content with keeping Maxey for the long haul, it appears a deal like this won’t come to fruition unless anything changes in the front office.

Russell Westbrook Mentioned as James Harden Replacement

With the possibility of Harden’s departure looming, The Athletic’s Danny Leroux named former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook as a possible option the Sixers could look into as Harden’s replacement.

Leroux listed the Sixers as one of the “high-end teams looking for guard depth” that could be interested in Westbrook. He also included that the Sixers should only look into adding Westbrook if Harden leaves.

Leroux added what kind of position would be available to Westbrook this summer.

“There does not appear to be another franchise likely to offer a starting spot (or starter money), but there could be young rosters and possibly playoff-caliber teams offering a third-guard role.”

A starting point guard slot for Westbrook could open up if Harden leaves the Sixers. Better yet, if Harden departs and the Sixers change their mind about trading for Bradley Beal, a potential backcourt could feasibly replace Harden’s loss since Beal and Westbrook have experience playing together as they did on the Wizards during the 2020-21 season.

Because of all the uncertainty surrounding his free agency, the notion of James Harden‘s replacement has been floated around since the Philadelphia 76ers‘ season ended. Among the options the Sixers could look into, The Athletic’s Danny Leroux named former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook as a possible option.

Leroux listed the Sixers as one of the “high-end teams looking for guard depth” that could be interested in Westbrook. Although he listed the Sixers as an option only if Harden parts ways with them this summer. Leroux added what could potentially sway Westbrook as a free agent this offseason.

“There does not appear to be another franchise likely to offer a starting spot (or starter money), but there could be young rosters and possibly playoff-caliber teams offering a third-guard role.”

Should Harden leave the Sixers, that could potentially open up a starting spot that Westbrook could fill. Westbrook is not the shooter that Harden is, but he would help replace much of the playmaking that Harden brings. Westbrook averaged 7.5 assists a game during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers during the 2022-23 season.

Again, this would all only be considered if Harden leaves, which is not a foregone conclusion, but as far as replacements go, the Sixers could do worse than Westbrook.

Chris Paul-James Harden Trade Has ‘Circulated’

On June 9, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that the idea of the Sixers exchanging Harden to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul has been brought up.

“There’s the idea of Phoenix exchanging Paul for James Harden, which has quietly circulated around some league personnel since the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago,” Fischer wrote. “A reunion between Harden and Durant makes for great fodder, and the bearded point guard could feasibly pick up his 2023-24 player option on the condition Philadelphia trades him to the Suns.”

Such a deal would only be completed if Harden agrees to opt in to his contract, which could potentially cost him more money if he chooses that route. If the Sixers agree to that trade. Fischer referenced a similar trade happening with Paul when he was acquired by the Houston Rockets.

“You may remember Paul pulled that exact maneuver to join Harden in Houston in 2017. Harden, though, stands to gain quite a bit more financially from either staying pat with the 76ers or returning to the Rockets and their $60-plus million in-waiting cap space.”

NBA Exec Says James Harden is Not a Max Player

An NBA executive told Heavy Sports’ Steve Bulpett that while he believes Harden is using the Rockets for leverage, he added that Harden won’t get the contract he wants because he’s no longer that kind of player.

“There’s this talk about him going back to Houston, but from what I understand it’s nothing more than a negotiating ploy. He knows that these guys aren’t going to max him. He’s no longer a max player, but he’s hoping that Philly wants him back and is willing to pay him.

Another executive agreed with that sentiment while talking with Bulpett, though the exec added that Harden is still a quality player.

“Look, in the right situation, I think he could be an important part of a team. He could contribute to a good team,” said an Eastern Conference exec told Heavy. “But is he ready to take that role and be paid what that role is worth? From our conversations, what James is looking for is someone to pay him at a rate that he thinks that he’s worth, which he’s not.”

After the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics on May 14, it only took the Sixers two days to fire head coach Doc Rivers. On the June 13 episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Rivers talked about his time with the Sixers, including the difficulty of coaching James Harden.

“It was challenging. More because we were fighting two things, and not like visually fighting. James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways, is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball, and coming back to the ball,” Rivers told Simmons.

Rivers then detailed the challenge of coaching Harden, adding that things changed for the worse as the season went on because of him.

“At times, to get him to move and play the way I needed him to play [was challenging]. I thought the first half of the year we were the best team in the game. I thought James was playing perfect basketball. He was a point guard of the team. He was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. And then the second half, he started scoring more, and I thought we got more stagnant at times.”

James Harden Was ‘Driving Force’ Behind Doc Rivers’ Firing

Two days after Rivers was fired, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that it was, in fact, Harden who pushed the Sixers to fire Rivers as head coach.

“Several members of Rivers’ staff, sources said, have pointed to All-Star point guard James Harden — whom league personnel are expecting to decline his player option in search of a long-term contract — as a driving force behind Rivers’ departure,” Fischer wrote in a story published May 18.

Since then, the Sixers have hired Nick Nurse as Rivers’ replacement. Firing Rivers was a drastic change on the Sixers’ part, but it could very well be what inspires Harden to stay with the Sixers. Even though Harden did not have the best overall playoff performance, the Sixers don’t have a lot of options outside of keeping him.

Insider Said James Harden Had Bad Rapport With Doc Rivers

On the May 16 episode of “The Anthony Gargano Show,” NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne talked about how things were going between Harden and Rivers behind the scenes. From what Shelburne made it sound like, the two were not on good terms.

“The Harden-Doc Rivers thing was never great,” Shelburne said. “There was a lot behind it. There was this team meeting I had heard about where Doc tried to say something about (Harden) going out on the road and how does that look and how does that look to your teammates. If you’re going to do that, you’ve really got to show up in the game. There was a lot of trying to hold James accountable in certain ways.”

Add that coaching Harden was a challenge for Rivers may have been a direct result of the issues the two had with one another behind the scenes. Since Rivers no longer calls the shots in Philadelphia, he no longer has to worry about potentially worsening the team’s chemistry by calling out Harden the way he did.

With all the speculation surrounding where Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden goes next, NBA Insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported on June 9 that another option has been floated around – the Sixers trading Harden to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul.

“There’s the idea of Phoenix exchanging Paul for James Harden, which has quietly circulated around some league personnel since the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. A reunion between Harden and Durant makes for great fodder, and the bearded point guard could feasibly pick up his 2023-24 player option on the condition Philadelphia trades him to the Suns.”

Among those who are not in favor of this move was Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, who said that such a deal would take the Sixers out of contention.

“This would also be a hugely disappointing outcome for the Sixers, who gave up multiple first-round picks along with Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond to acquire Harden just 16 months ago. Paul is still a solid starting point guard, but he’s 38 and has a history of playoff injuries. As good as players such as Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are, swapping Harden for Paul probably eliminates the 76ers as true title contenders.”

Though he did not approve of the deal, Swartz added why it would be attractive for the Sixers.

“Philly avoids the Beard bouncing in free agency for nothing in return. A Paul-Joel Embiid pick-and-roll would be highly successful as well,” Swartz said.

The Sixers could potentially look into getting some form of consolation in the event of losing Harden, but Paul might not be what they would want, knowing his age.

Exec Says James Harden’s Not a Max Player

While explaining why the Houston Rockets‘ interest in Harden makes no sense, an NBA Executive told Heavy Sports’ Steve Bulpett that Harden won’t get the max contract he wants because he’s not the player he once was.

“There’s this talk about him going back to Houston, but from what I understand it’s nothing more than a negotiating ploy. He knows that these guys aren’t going to max him. He’s no longer a max player, but he’s hoping that Philly wants him back and is willing to pay him.

“Houston’s making changes, so what connections will James have with the new people — and why would Houston, that has a bunch of youngsters that they’re trying to grow into NBA players, why would they bring in someone with James’ history of partying?”

When Harden was a regular season MVP candidate, he was deserving of a max contract, but he hasn’t been in that conversation since the 2019-20 season when he finished third in MVP voting.

Suns Interest in Harden Shot Down

On June 9, John Gombadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 Radio FM discredited the notion that the Suns may go after Harden this summer on his personal Twitter.

“Can we stop with these ridiculous James Harden reports. There is a zero percent chance this would happen. ZERO,” Gomabadoro tweeted.

The Suns don’t have the available cap space to sign Harden outright, but Paul and his $30.8 million partially guaranteed contract could be used in a trade which is why the notion was brought up.

James Harden won’t be leaving the Philadelphia 76ers to join up with controversial Dallas Mavericks free agent-to-be Kyrie Irving to sign together on the up-and-coming Houston Rockets per the New York Post’s Christian Arnold — this after having previously teamed up on the Brooklyn Nets before “The Beard” begged for a move out of the Big Apple due to the polarizing guard’s behavior.

“While the Rockets have plenty of salary cap space, it would also be hard to imagine Houston convincing both Harden and Irving in joining up to play with one another again after the way things ended in Brooklyn,” Arnold wrote.

With Irving receiving interest from the Mavericks — with the Los Angeles Lakers looming as a possibility due to Irving’s desire to team up with LeBron James again –, the Rockets are likely out as a potential landing spot for “Uncle Drew.” Arnold feels that Harden could end up back in Houston after more than two years away, though.

“While a reunion between Harden and the Rockets became a little less certain with the report that he was torn on what to do, the odds still seem good that he’ll end up back with the Rockets — though the Suns have been floated as a potentially interested party,” Arnold wrote.

Kyrie Irving Doesn’t Have Sentimental Appeal to Rockets

The Rockets wouldn’t consider Irving as they would Harden because of the lack of sentimental appeal the former lacks and the latter has according to CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn. In addition, Quinn sees an awkward fit with Irving and Houston’s core.

“Irving doesn’t have the same sentimental appeal to Houston that Harden does,” Quinn prefaced before saying, “He’s never played for the Rockets, and he’s never meaningfully competed for a regular-season MVP award. On paper, the fit is odd. Houston already has two high-usage guards in Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. Irving is better than both, but it’s surprising to see the Rockets potentially discard younger, less controversial players in favor of Irving, whom they don’t know as well organizationally as they do Harden.”

The Rockets amassed a 397-224 record and reached two Western Conference Finals, in 2015 and 2018, with “The Beard” in uniform. Irving, meanwhile, has only been a part of a team with a playoff win one season (2020-21) since joining the Nets in 2019 free agency.

Mavericks & Sixers Could Re-Sign Stars This Offseason

Quinn sees Irving returning to the Mavericks as a certainty, though the rumors of a Rockets move could be a leverage play from the point guard’s camp to get as much money as possible.

“The reported expectation around the league all offseason has been that Irving remains with the Mavericks on a hefty long-term deal, but these rumors certainly won’t hurt his ability to drum up some leverage with Dallas,” Quinn wrote.

As for Harden, Quinn doesn’t see the Rockets relying on a Harden signing to change their fortunes and instead pivoting to whoever they can get to immediately improve — which could leave the door open for a return to the Sixers.

“What has become clear as player-movement season approaches is that the Rockets are not only targeting Harden this offseason,” Quinn prefaced before saying, “They plan to make a serious step toward the playoffs, with or without their former point guard.”

In the wake of the potential loss of James Harden this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers could be on the lookout for his replacement. One such name that’s been floated is Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. Should Harden leave, Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire proposed a trade that would replace Harden with Lillard.

Sixers get: Damian Lillard

Trail Blazers get: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, De’Anthony Melton, and pick swaps in 2024, 2026, and 2028

Carlin first explained that trading away Maxey would be a hard pill to swallow for the Sixers.

“Moving Maxey would be hard for this franchise to do. He is only going to get better and this is after he averaged 20.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 43.4% from deep. He was fantastic all season long, and he is going to make multiple All-Star games.”

He added that Lillard would fit well next to Joel Embiid like Harden, though a deal like this would all depend on if Harden truly is leaving.

“However, Lillard gives them their best chance to win right now. His ability to take a game over in the blink of an eye and just throw a team on his back as well as his killer instinct comes in handy for a team contending for a championship. He and Joel Embiid would be able to co-exist just as James Harden was able to do so.

“Of course, this trade is all about Harden leaving. If he does, Lillard should be somebody to keep an eye on for Philadelphia, even though he listed the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets as his preferred destinations.”

Insider Says Damian Lillard-Sixers Trade is Not Likely

NBA Insider Chris Haynes named teams who could potentially go after Lillard this offseason. While he named the Sixers as a possibility, he did not think a trade would be likely.

“Nets, Miami, and possibly, I don’t know, Philly, but they don’t have what it takes, so I’ll leave it at Nets and Miami.” Haynes said on “The Dan Patrick Show” on June 8.

Lillard has yet to make a trade request, but the Trail Blazers are running low on options on how they’ll be able to build a contending team around Lillard. Lillard has voiced his desire to stay loyal to the team, but that could change.

James Harden is Unsure About Free Agency Decision

Despite the rumors tying Harden to the Houston Rockets, NBA Insider Shams Charania revealed on the June 6 episode of “The Ryan Russillo Podcast” that Harden does not know who his next team will be.

“I don’t think he knows. As far as what I know about his mindset, I don’t think he totally is there,” Charania said. “We’re less than a month out from free agency starting. I really think he’s torn with the prospect of staying in Philadelphia or moving on to Houston potentially and returning back to his home.”

Charania then listed all the factors on Philly’s end that could determine his decision.

“I think whichever way it goes, it’s going to be relatively close. That’s why as we get closer to July 1, June 30th, those conversations that he’s going to have, as he becomes a free agent, with Nick Nurse and with Daryl Morey, what their vision is for him, what their vision is for that team, what that offer ultimately is going to be versus comparing it to whatever Houston comes with on June 30th or July 1, those are all very important factors.”

Tobias Harris, by nature of his expiring $39 million contract for the 2023-24 season, is a two-way asset for the Philadelphia 76ers and any team that would acquire the 30-year-old forward.

In a mock trade proposal from The Sixer Sense’s Tyler Watts, the Sixers would land Marvin Bagley from the Detroit Pistons for Harris and two future second-round draft picks — which would give Philadelphia a valuable piece to build upon with the former No. 2 overall draft pick Bagley and would free up future cap flexibility for the Pistons.

Regarding Harris, Watts finds the 12-year veteran to be the perfect hand for Detroit’s new head coach Monty Williams’ first roster in the Motor City.

“They have an exciting young roster, but the Pistons certainly need more talent if they want to immediately contend under new head coach Monty Williams,” Watts prefaced before saying, “The number five pick in the draft will help, but getting someone like Tobias Harris could be what pushes Detroit back into the postseason.”

As for Bagley, Watts feels Bagley could contribute off the bench for a team that could end up with $35 million in cap space if James Harden didn’t re-sign if such a trade was agreed upon by both front offices.

“Bagley III has shown some flashes, but the 24-year-old has struggled to stay healthy,” Watts prefaced before saying, “Detroit is unlikely to be players in free agency, so they could look to use their cap space this way. The former number two overall pick could play a bench scoring role in Philadelphia, and the 76ers would have nearly $35 million in cap space if James Harden remained off their books.”

Tobias Harris ‘Finally’ a Positive Trade Asset for Sixers

Liberty Ballers’ Bryan Toporek said that Harris’ contract has “finally” become a positive trade asset for the Sixers, four years after signing a five-year, $180 million contract extension during the 2019 NBA offseason.

“No one should expect the Sixers to fetch a massive haul for Harris, who remains one of the most comically overpaid players throughout the NBA,” Toporek prefaced before saying, “But teams with bloated, longer-term deals could value the ability to clear $39.3 million off their books after next season, particularly with the draconian new CBA set to take effect this summer. That could finally turn Harris’ contract into a positive asset instead of an albatross.”

Harris’ extension was signed instead of one for Jimmy Butler, which is something Sixers fans will have a tough time getting over with the team that signed him, the Miami Heat, having made the NBA Finals twice and the Eastern Conference Finals three times since signing “Jimmy Buckets.”

Sixers Fans Expect Tobias Harris to Be Traded

Sixers fans aren’t holding their breath on Harris seeing it through to the end of his contract in Philadelphia. In fact, the overwhelming majority of fans are expecting Harris to be dealt this offseason according to Liberty Ballers’ Jackson Frank.

“According to a recent survey, more than 70 percent of participants think at least one of (Harris and Harden) will be elsewhere this fall, with 71 percent of folks believing Harris will be traded during the offseason,” Frank wrote.

Frank believes the Sixers could look to deal Harris in an effort to spread salary across several contributors.

“He’s a good, useful player, but has often regressed in the playoffs and is a murky fit, given his contract and preference to operate methodically on the ball offensively,” Frank wrote. “If the right trade arises, it’s by no means inconceivable Philadelphia could move him to fortify its depth and rearrange the rotation.”