Clippers, Knicks Linked to 76ers’ James Harden

Two teams have been linked to 76ers guard James Harden.

After weeks of speculation, James Harden finally made a decision regarding his player option for the 2023-2024 season. While Harden has accepted to pick up the $35.6 million option with the Philadelphia 76ers, the star guard will be requesting a trade.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it is expected that Harden has played his last game for the Sixers. If that’s indeed the case, Harden wraps up his Sixers stint with two seasons under his belt.

After getting traded to the Sixers during the 2021-2022 season from the Brooklyn Nets, Harden averaged 23 points and 11 assists during a 21-game stretch. During the playoffs, he struggled by averaging just 19 points and nine assists while shooting 41 percent from the field in the midst of a second-round exit.

Last summer, Harden inked a one-plus-one deal with the Sixers. Taking a discount in year one, Harden hoped that his season of sacrifice could help clear up space so the Sixers could add some notable prospects via free agency.

Unfortunately, Harden’s help didn’t translate into different team success. During the regular season, Harden helped lead the Sixers to a 54-38 record, which placed them third in the Eastern Conference. The veteran guard averaged 21 points and 11 assists across 58 games. Harden, and the Sixers came up short in the second round of the playoffs for the second-straight season.

Initially, Harden was expected to decline his second-year option with the Sixers and hit the free agency market, where he would field offers from the 76ers and the Houston Rockets. Recently, the plan has changed.

Not only have the Rockets reportedly turned their attention elsewhere, but it seems Harden doesn’t see a long-term fit with the Sixers as well. While Harden will re-join the Sixers’ roster with his player option, the expectation is that he will be traded. So far, two teams have been linked to the ten-time All-Star.

Per Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks are two teams to keep an eye on as Harden’s trade market forms. Earlier this week, a Houston-based insider mentioned the Clippers as dark horse candidates to go for Harden.

Considering the Knicks took a big swing on former Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell last season, which resulted in a miss as the Cleveland Cavaliers won the sweepstakes, it comes as no surprise the Knicks are going to consider looking into acquiring the 2022-2023 assist leader. 

With Harden deciding that his time in Philadelphia is finished, he becomes the next notable name on the trade market this summer.