One of the main questions for the Philadelphia 76ers heading into the offseason is whether or not James Harden will accept his player option to return to the team or test his chances in free agency. 

Harden has a $35.6 million player option with the 76ers for next season, but he could also turn it down and become an unrestricted free agent. 

According to Ramona Shelburne, that could depend on whether or not the 76ers decide to fire Doc Rivers.

To be clear, the Philadelphia 76ers should definitely, without a doubt, fire Doc Rivers. I’m honestly shocked it hasn’t happened yet given the fact that we already witnessed successful coaches like Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns lose their coaching jobs after their teams early exits from the playoffs. 

Ramona Shelburne on James Harden and Doc Rivers

The Harden to Houston rumors escalated almost immediately following Game 7 with Woj on ESPN saying that there’s “a very real possibility” that he returns to the Rockets this summer. 

Woj: There’s “a very real possibility” that James Harden returns to Houston

Now according to Brian Geltzeiler of SiriusXM NBA Radio it looks like there’s another team that’s “prominently” on the radar to land Harden if he doesn’t pick up his player option. 

Enter the Phoenix Suns. 

I’m not sure if this rumor holds any credit given the fact that the Phoenix Suns already have Devin Booker playing the same position.

Could they pull off a sign-and-trade and move on from Deandre Ayton and/or Chris Paul in the process? It’s certainly possible but that seems like a lot of work for a team who just acquired Kevin Durant and is now looking for a new coach heading into next season. 

We’ll see how aggressive new Suns owner Matt Ishbia wants to be this summer but I’m not ready to buy-in on the Harden to Phoenix rumors quite yet. 

I do however, wish that Woj would announce the firing of Doc Rivers and yes, that James Harden is hitting free agency instead of robbing the Sixers of $35.6 million next season, but that hasn’t happened yet either. 

It’s going to be a long offseason. Hang in there. 

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