Since the Sixers traded Ben Simmons for James Harden, the three-time scoring champion, 2018 MVP, 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, 75-time all-time and future Hall of Fame member, we’ve been wondering what The Beard’s next contract might look like.
Well, the only thing not on this amazing resume is a championship. And it looks like this is what 33-year-old Harden has prioritized when structuring his next deal, which looks like it will be at least $ 15 million less than the salary he could have earned by picking up that $ 47 option. , $ 4 million by 2023.
According to Shams Charania of Athletic, Harden plans to receive $ 15 million in compensation, the first year of a two-year contract with a player option, the second year:
Everyone around Harden has understood the focus of his training regime this offseason and a championship goal for 2022-23. Their close relationships with those around the organization, including Michael Rubin and Daryl Morey, played an important role in the trust between the two parties. https://t.co/q1eDY9xrDy
– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2022
The deal is probably the last and only major low-season wage move for Philadelphia (unless they really surprise us with a highly successful trade). It basically means that it will be here for at least one more season and that we will be able to revisit this issue in the summer of 2023.
Last month Harden officially declined his option and, as Shams pointed out, this move is what allowed Daryl Morey and Elton Brand to use a precious margin of maneuver under the luxury tax apron to sign a pair of antiques. Harden’s teammates (and friends) to the Miami Heat striker. PJ Tucker and Utah Jazz swing man Danuel House. Both players were Harden’s teammates at the Rockets in the past.
Harden reportedly went to the Hamptons last holiday weekend with Sixers Brass to negotiate the terms of that deal. And according to most accounts, the negotiations became extremely hostile, controversial and heated:
It’s a joke, apparently, it was a great vibe and, as Shams pointed out, the trust between Harden, Morey and Michael Rubin is what helped facilitate this team’s first move.
One of my favorite parts of the entire evening was Tyrese Maxey, apparently operating along the fringes of the game (thrown by former 76ers Rubin minority owner), in stealth mode, while her teammates star danced for cell phone cameras:
I’m dying for Harden, Tucker and Embiid to be on stage with Meek and Maxey was just hanging out in the crowd https://t.co/qEpg4keUVJ
– Real Hooper Pilled Trill (@TrillBroDude) July 4, 2022
“I’ll be here … whatever allows this team to grow and improve and do the things necessary to win and compete at the highest level,” Harden said in May, after the team’s brutal defeat to the Miami Heat during the second round. of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Weeks ago, when he had the feeling that he would definitely opt for it, fans wondered about these comments. Did he change his mind? Would the property have preferred to save money in the future rather than during the Embiid improvement? How old will he be?
Apparently James meant every word of this statement. And now, Joel Embiid is playing with Tucker, the #dawg he recently mentioned they need someone like.
“You look at someone like PJ Tucker,” Embiid said in May. “A great player, but it’s not about him shooting down shots. It’s about what he does, either on defense or by bouncing the ball. “
If Harden had opted, he could have extended his contract later in the summer (waiting until August would have allowed him to earn an annual increase of 8%) or “bet on himself” for a one-year deal while reviewed the topic in 12 months. He chose any of those probably more lucrative option paths would have made the landing of Tucker and House (or anyone who has already received offers of similar size) very difficult, as described by our Bryan Toporek.
If Harden had chosen to participate, the most the Sixers could have offered free agents was a single $ 6.3 million average taxpayer-level exception and perhaps a minimum vet salary. Even TPMLE would have been below the amount that some useful players make:
Caleb Martin has agreed a three-year deal worth about $ 20.5 million to return to Heat, per source.
Heat using the $ 6.5 million average taxpayer exception to Martin.
– Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) July 6, 2022
As it began, Philadelphia spent nearly $ 15 million on both Tucker and House, and they were able to do so as soon as free agency began, avoiding a long limbo where the most important wings would have settled. lat elsewhere. And indirectly, it came straight out of Harden’s aqua-themed cargo pockets.
In fact, $ 15 million is actually more than the exact amount he had to give up the first year, to create maximum space for Tucker and House. We’ll wait for more information, but the Sixers may have more room under the apron to maneuver forward.
This whole process should be considered a great victory for this organization because there are dozens of ways it could have gone wrong. We’ve had fun calling them the Philadelphia Rockets lately, but this whole deal also looks a bit like the Spurs so far.
Most importantly (and hilarious):
Tobias Harris will now officially be the Sixers ’highest paid player in 2022-23.
– Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) July 8, 2022
Not long ago, we had heard that it was very likely that Harden would sign up and that the team could structure a three-year maximum wage framework that would clear Harden around $ 151 million by 2025. That’s substantially less money on first year that and also encourages Harden. to return to the All-NBA status he had before all of these hamstring injuries first appeared in March 2021.
(Just notice, a player option next summer also means there will be rumors of rival suitors over the next season, as well as the occasional body language expert looking for signs of discord).
Last winter, we heard hilarious rumors that Harden “forgot” to opt for his massive player option for 2023. Imagine you forget to basically cash in a $ 50 million check? If this Sixers team wins a title, this story will only become a bit of hilarious Philadelphia sports folklore.
If we estimate it at about $ 32.4 million this season and $ 35 million next, in a sense, it’s basically now “exchanging” $ 15 million for some disaster insurance for the next year. I hope to give it up again in 12 months. But I firmly suspect that the Sixers would have happily extended it two more seasons if I had preferred it, so my reading is that Harden wanted to bet on being able to get back in shape after a summer spent recovering.
I will be here. Everything that allows this team to grow. Harden’s words and actions provide good ideas for the mantras of the 2023 season.