Philadelphia 76ers: Extending James Harden makes a ton of sense

“James Harden isn’t a $47.3 million player.”

These words, expressed by Bobby Marks in his offseason guide to the Philadelphia 76ers, are probably the least controversial part of the almost 12 minute video, as ESPN’s salary cap specialist also called Matisse Thybulle unextendable, Tobias Harris borderline untradeable, and suggested that the ownership group may not want to go into the luxury tax this season.

Why? Because honestly, it’s true; Harden very much did play like a third or even fourth option at times during the Sixers’ playoff run and handing him one of the biggest single-season paychecks in NBA history could prove a very poor allocation of assets.

With that being said, what are the Philadelphia 76ers’ other options? Should they hope James Harden declines and allow him to test the open market? Should they hope a team like Portland attempts a sign-and-trade? Or worst of all, should Daryl Morey give his favorite player the supermax contract – a contract Bobby Marks suggested would be the worst in sports history? Fortunately, there is a solution that should please everyone, assuming both sides are willing to compromise.

The Philadelphia 76ers should pursue a mid-term, non-max extension with James Harden.

When the Miami Heat traded Precious Achiuwa, Goran Dragic, and a second round pick to the Toronto Raptors for Kyle Lowry, it wasn’t a simple swap of players and picks. No, to get the sign-and-trade done, Pat Riley and company actually had to negotiate a new contract with Lowry’s camp before the deal could be completed, which is a lot easier said than done since the pride of Villanova isn’t a max contract player.

The results? Riley gave Lowry a three-year, $85 million deal that runs through 2023-24, and the Heat secured a perfect player both for their roster and their culture.

That, my friends, should be the blueprint the Philadelphia 76ers present to James Harden’s camp when negotiation talks open up in the not-too-distant future, albeit with a little more financial skin in the game included in the deal due to leverage.

Now sure, could Harden play hardball? You bet, but as Bobby Marks pointed out in his guide, there isn’t exactly a robust market for Harden either via trade or free agency. Unless he wants to put up Goofy numbers in the Magic Kingdom or bring his career back to where it all began in OKC, his best option is to remain in South Philly and hitch his ride to the JoJo wagon.

Could he take the $47.3 million that’s already on the table and hope that a healthy 2022-23 proves a bounceback campaign worthy of a max contract once more? You bet, but does Harden even want to play five more NBA seasons, especially with $268 million already in his bank account?

Maybe I’m a contrarian, but I sort of doubt it.

No, the best course of action for all parties involved may be to take the $47.3 million owed to Harden as a base number and use that as a foundation for a Lowry-length contract, say, a three-year deal worth $100 million. Harden would be extension eligible as soon as the summer of 2024 and could conceivably still make it to season 18 if he so chooses.

What’s better than one guaranteed season? Three guaranteed contract seasons, even if they are at a slightly lower per-year number.

When asked about his future immediately following the Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat, James Harden said he’d be back in the City of Brotherly Love next season. Could he come back for free? Most certainly not, but would he do so for, say, $14 million less per season in order to take one final Act 3 swing at a championship? I think that is very much a possibility indeed.