NBA World Exploded Over Report of James Harden, 76ers Working to Find Trade

Harden is opting into his $35.6 million contract for next season, with eyes on heading elsewhere.

With the start of NBA free agency just one day away, the basketball world was hit was a stunning bit of news when it was reported that James Harden would opt in to the final year of his contract with the 76ers, with the ultimate goal of being traded away to another team.

If a Harden trade does indeed happen, it would be the former MVP’s fourth team in the past two-and-a-half years. Harden was traded from the Rockets to the Nets in January 2021, then was shipped to Philadelphia just over a year later. He’s made 79 starts each for the Nets and Sixers. The 33-year-old is set to make $35.6 million next season.

Among the teams that are expected to engage in trade discussions with Philadelphia are the Clippers and Knicks, per Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In 51 games last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points and a league-best 10.7 assists per game while shooting 38.5% on three-point attempts.

News of Harden’s expected departure from the City of Brotherly Love drew plenty of reactions from the basketball world. Check out the best of the bunch below.

21ST. CENTURY TRADE REQUEST STANDINGS
Harden — 3
Kyrie — 2
Dwight - 1
Kawhi — 1
Kobe - 1
KD - 1
Butler — 1
Shaq - 1
CP3 — 1
Kidd — 1
Iverson - 1
Vince - 1
T-Mac - 1
KG — 0.5
Pierce - 0
Giannis 0
LeBron - 0
Duncan - 0
Jokic - 0
Dirk - 0
Curry - 0
Wade - 0

Congrats to James

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 29, 2023

Sixers: “Where do you want to be traded?”

Harden: pic.twitter.com/yCdrB8B3QY

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) June 29, 2023

Harden getting one of these when its said and done pic.twitter.com/XEl8egsEKC

— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) June 29, 2023

Harden, KD, and Kyrie have combined for 7 trade requests in less than two seasons.

Historic numbers.

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) June 29, 2023

Every single person in the Knicks organization should be fired if they bring in James Harden. https://t.co/oprzHpUNPe

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) June 29, 2023

Switching fan bases for the 3rd time in 3 years pic.twitter.com/DEK7pqt4VH

— 🎩 (@HardenUTD) June 29, 2023

“Harden and Embiid the new Kobe and Shaq” https://t.co/0HdaVLgRz5

— Sam Yeezy (@samstaydipped) June 29, 2023

Every James Harden trade. pic.twitter.com/tC5kAqBn54

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) June 29, 2023

JAMES HARDEN REQUESTS A TRADE FROM THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS! pic.twitter.com/kGTLjhsC64

— Nets As Depicted By Spongebob (@NetsDepiction) June 29, 2023

Harden and Russ when Kawhi and PG are load managing in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/0zkbE3vmq4 https://t.co/Ch4Z6mQgcN

— ClipShowYo (@CIipShowYo) June 29, 2023