James Harden Fans Will Sigh In Relief As The Former MVP Looks To Sign An Extension With 76ers To Boost Joel Embiid’s 2023 Championship Ambitions

Published 06/16/2022, 9:39 PM EDT

At the time of free agency last season, the NBA world shook from the core. The Philadelphia 76ers made one of the biggest moves their franchise could only dream of. Partnering with an MVP candidate Joel Embiid, James Harden made his way into the Sixers rotation. Even though Harden isn’t his MVP self anymore, the Sixers instantly became championship threats, and the duo was expected to dominate.

However, the Beard didn’t have the best of times in the postseason and saw them go down. But it seems the franchise is willing to give him another shot. According to the reports, Harden to set to sign a short-term deal with the Sixers and continue his partnership with Embiid.

With the entire Ben Simmons saga, the Sixers were lacking a major star in their lineup. However, they were blessed with the best version of Joel Embiid. While the Simmons’ situation was giving them monetary advantages, the franchise saw their chance to go for a championship.

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Hence, they made a deal with the Nets from out of nowhere and got former MVP James Harden to team up with one of the best current centers in the game. And despite a shocking postseason exit this season, Harden is ready to return back in Philly colors on a short-term deal.

James Harden has his sights set to stay with the Sixers

The expectations for the Harden and Embiid duo were high. One of the most dominant physical forces and elite scorers had come together to make a run at the championships. All the stars seemed aligned right for them. However, when it all seemed too good, things fell apart. Harden suffering back-to-back hamstring injuries did not do the Sixers any good in their playoff journey. The Sixers lost in the second round once again. And his major offensive dip may be the reason the Sixers aren’t showing all the trust.

With Harden’s contract extending until the next season, his $47 million player option will be in play. And Philly is resistant to giving the Beard a long-term deal. But they still want to make a push with a healthy Harden and Embiid in the coming years. Hence, they may look to extend his offer over the player option for two years. Bagging in $149 million in that span, the shorter contract gives both Sixers and Harden better optionality.

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James Harden came up as one of the biggest offensive weapons in basketball in his prime. Under Morey, he was a top candidate 4 out of the 5 years with the Rockets. While he isn’t the same anymore, this time he has the offensive help with Embiid. As a close favorite to win the Most Valuable Player this season, Embiid is an offensive juggernaut. And Harden is a great facilitator of the ball.

Playing with one of the most dangerous weapons in basketball, Harden can work as a second-option scorer. With three years of this duo still in Philadelphia, their championship hopes are very much still alive.

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Despite not being in his offensive prime, Harden can make a difference on the floor with his elite passing ability. In addition, he still has his killer step back, which is virtually unguardable. Returning healthy next season, watching an entire season of this duo will determine just how good they are.

Do you think a healthy James Harden will anchor the Sixers ahead of the second round next season? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.

Edited by:

Bagavathi Eswaran

James Harden Fans Will Sigh In Relief As The Former MVP Looks To Sign An Extension With 76ers To Boost Joel Embiid’s 2023 Championship Ambitions

James Harden has his sights set to stay with the Sixers

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