Share This Article
According to reports in the American media, James Harden is not going to leave the Philadelphia Sixers. Actually, the quite opposite is happening – Harden will take a pay cut for Phila.
According to the exclusive information of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 32-year-old superstar has agreed to sign a 2-year contract, for which he will receive approximately 68 million dollars.
The 2018 MVP had an option to earn $47 million for one more season but did not exercise it. According to him, this decision left Philadelphia with better financial opportunities. He gave up his option for Phila to strengthen the team better. As you know, NBA clubs have a so-called “salary cap.”
How will Phila benefit from Harden’s pay cut
There are a few layers to how this benefits Philadelphia. First, obviously by taking a $15 million pay cut, the Sixers were left the ability to sign both P.J. Tucker (3 years, $33.2 million) and Danuel House (2 years, $8.4 million).
Another important factor of Harden’s discounted contract is the number of committed years. The deal is for two years, with the second season being a player option meaning that James Harden has the choice to either come back to Philadelphia at the agreed-upon price, or he could become a free agent once again.
The latter may be the more likely for two reasons. First, it would give the Sixers more flexibility when it comes to signing free agents. Second, it would allow Harden the opportunity to either secure $30 million-plus or, in his hopeful case, show that he’s deserving of much more. Either way, the fact that this deal is at most two years and there is a pathway to financial flexibility next season should be viewed as great news for the Sixers.
In his first season with Phila, Harden averaged 22 points, 10.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds (65 games). The Sixers lost to Miami in the second round of the playoffs. When on form, Harden forms one of the league’s most dangerous pick’n’roll duos with Philly center Joel Embiid.