James Harden is now “widely expected” to re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden intends to opt out of his $35.6 million player option for next season before the June 29th deadline and become a free agent. Over the past month, we have bounced from Harden to Houston, to Harden being “torn” between the Sixers and the Rockets, to now Harden “very likely” to be back in Philly next season on a new contract.

Here’s where I start to get annoyed.

I am so sick of the back-and-forth regarding James Harden and if he actually wants to stay in Philadelphia. I can’t be alone in finding this entire process extremely annoying, especially coming from Harden, who came up small (like he always does) in the playoffs last season.

Really, it’s not even about last season anymore. This is about the future of the Philadelphia 76ers franchise and both the short and long term goals of this organization. Initial reports stated that James Harden was leaving Philadelphia in search of a 4-year, $200 million contract in free agency. 

You would have to assume that even Daryl Morey isn’t dumb enough to offer that type of length or money to James Harden. It would be a franchise-killer and ultimately the final nail in the coffin for the current era of Philadelphia 76ers basketball. 

That would mean the Sixers are going to re-sign Harden to what’s likely a 2-year contract and basically run it back this season with the same group of players which honestly sounds completely miserable.

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. Perhaps that’s why there’s a report that Harden is “giving renewed consideration to staying put.” via The Inky / Keith Pompey

Look I get it. The Sixers are obviously better with James Harden than without him. He averaged 21 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game last season and replacing that kind of production is rough to do, even more so when you are stuck in salary cap hell with little-to-no draft picks to move until 2029. 

Still, the idea that the 76ers would consider bringing back James Harden and selling this fanbase on “running it back” next season after this group came up short in the playoffs yet again with a massive chunk of the fanbase completely checked out sounds horrible.

I really don’t see the majority of Sixers fans buying in on James Harden, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey again next season. The fallout last year was real. To think that the Sixers will get anything more than “arms length treatment” until next year’s playoffs is honestly insane and the organization should realize that and part ways with James Harden.

Give Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid the keys to the franchise. Bring in whoever else wants to play on this upcoming train wreck of a basketball season in 2024 and the rest of us will sit back and wait until we have Tobias Harris off the books in 2025 with a little breathing room in terms of money and draft picks to actually be a serious basketball team again.

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