New 76ers guard James Harden has not opted into the final year of his contract, as was reported following Thursday’s trade with the Nets, per Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice.
Harden was traded from Brooklyn to Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal involving Ben Simmons. Even if Harden hasn’t actually picked up his player option, it sounds as if he does intend to remain with the Sixers beyond this season.
As Neubeck reported, Harden and the 76ers “are both confident and feeling good about where they stand long term, but an important detail nonetheless.”
Harden said before the season, while with the Nets, he intended to test free agency this summer. Reports recently suggested Harden wanted to join the 76ers, teaming up with head of basketball operations Daryl Morey, the GM of the Rockets when Harden was with them.
But the Nets decided to put any worries about that to rest by simply trading him to Philadelphia, where he will team up with Joel Embiid. The 76ers are hoping it gives them the one-two championship punch that Simmons and Embiid never did.
The move takes the pressure off Morey for the season and places it on coach Doc Rivers, wrote Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Acquiring a star such as Harden will do that. Soon, though, it will be Morey’s job to make sure Harden is with the 76ers to stay.
“He now would have to wait until end of year to opt in, or (obviously) could simply opt out and sign new long-term deal,” Neubeck wrote.
Harden is not expected to play for the Nets this weekend, Neubeck added, as the star guard will arrive in Philadelphia to be “evaluated by Sixers’ performance staff” before seeing game action.
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