James Harden Rumors: Contract, Free Agency, 76ers’ Trade Target

James Harden’s future with the Brooklyn Nets has all of a sudden become a hot topic as the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline gets closer. The superstar guard isn’t expected to be traded soon, but the latest rumors suggest that the Philadelphia 76ers might be a realistic landing spot for Harden in the 2022-23 season.

Harden can either pick up a $47.36 million player option for next season or test free agency this summer. After declining to sign a contract extension, the guard is expected to at least consider other options in the offseason.

As the 76ers continue to be unsatisfied with trade offers for Ben Simmons, there have been rumblings that Philadelphia General Manager Daryl Morey is eyeing a Simmons-for-Harden swap after this season. It’s a deal that Harden could potentially welcome, according to Bleacher Reports’ Jake Fischer.

Harden has reportedly told former teammates and coaches that he is interested in exploring his options outside of Brooklyn. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Harden would welcome playing with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, and ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said that Harden has a serious interest in joining the 76ers.

Fischer’s report noted that Harden is invested in trying to win a championship with the Nets this season, but his year-long stint in the Big Apple hasn’t been without its issues. Kyrie Irving’s status as a road-only player and some of coach Steve Nash's rotations have reportedly frustrated Harden. Sources also told Bleacher Report that Harden hasn’t enjoyed living in Brooklyn after he spent close to a decade in Houston.

With Harden headed for free agency and the 76ers low on salary cap space, the star’s path to Philadelphia would be through a sign-and-trade. That means the Nets would have to agree to send one of their best players to their division rival.

When it was revealed at the start of the season that Irving was unvaccinated against COVID-19 and couldn’t play in Brooklyn home games, an Irving-for-Simmons trade seemed to make sense for both teams. No such deal has been close, however, and it remains to be seen if the Nets would ever consider sending Harden to Philadelphia.

Despite Irving’s issues, the rumors about Harden and Kevin Durant’s latest injury, the Nets remain heavy favorites to win the 2022 NBA Finals. Through 46 games, Brooklyn is a half-game out of the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.

The Nets lost in Game 7 of the East semifinals in Harden’s first season with the team. Harden hasn’t been to the NBA Finals since he was a sixth man on the Oklahoma City Thunder that was defeated in the 2012 Finals.