76ers’ James Harden opts out of $47.37m player option for next season

• Harden will not pursue 76ers’ deal for next season.
• Tucker is likely joining the 76ers.
• Harden vowed to help his team reclaim the championship.

US media reported on Wednesday that Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden declined his $47.36 million player option for next season but expects to remain with the NBA team, which will now have more money available to enhance its lineup.

Multiple sites, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, reported the move after the NBA’s deadline for picking up or declining contract options expired.

Harden, who was acquired by the 76ers in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February, is allegedly willing to accept less than the maximum contract he might get as a free agency, as the Sixers want to add talent around him and star center Joel Embiid.

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The Inquirer claimed that Harden’s former Rockets colleague PJ Tucker is likely coming to Philadelphia.

Harden, 32, spent over eight seasons with the Rockets before requesting a trade to the Nets in January of 2021.

In 65 games with the Nets and 76ers last season, he averaged 22.0 points and 10.3 assists. He was part of the blockbuster transaction that brought Ben Simmons and Seth Curry to the Nets.

Even with Embiid and Harden, the 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round.

After the Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the Eastern Conference finals, Harden said he would remain with the 76ers and do anything he could contractually to help them construct a championship team.

“I’ll be here, yeah,” he said. “Whatever allows this team to continue to grow and get better – and do the things necessary to win and compete at the highest level.”

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