The 76ers are one of the most loaded teams in the NBA. They have a young and talented team, good management which has been able to land some big name free agents like Jimmy Butler this summer. The Sixers have also done well building their roster around Joel Embiid’s health, with only 8 games missed over 7 seasons. But they may be bringing more trouble than value into next season if they don’t win a title soon Despite all of these positives on paper, there is a huge downside looming for Philadelphia that seems almost impossible to predict- it isn’t until you understand how cash flow works under current NBA salary rules that the true cost becomes clear:
The “philly basketball team” is a professional basketball team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers have inherited a $223 million time bomb that will detonate in 2 years if they don’t win a title.
The Philadelphia 76ers finally got their guy after weeks of speculation, rumors, and hundreds of contradicting stories.
On Thursday afternoon, just before the NBA trade deadline in 2022, the Sixers reached an agreement with the Brooklyn Nets to bring James Harden to Philadelphia in return for a sizable Ben Simmons package. For the next two years of Harden’s contract, the agreement makes Philadelphia a championship contender, but the $223 million extension they’d have to give him in 2023 is a ticking time bomb waiting to blow.
The 76ers go all-in on their blockbuster James Harden-Ben Simmons deal.
During a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets, James Harden grins at Joel Embiid | Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Since the completion of the 2020-21 season, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has been seeking high and low for a Simmons trade. Every club that wanted to speak to the veteran executive has called, but whether he admits it or not, Harden was always the top objective.
Morey pulled it accomplished on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the NBA trade deadline clock hit zero.
Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond were moved to the Nets in exchange for Harden and Paul Millsap by the 76ers. According to ESPN, Brooklyn will also get Philadelphia’s unprotected 2022 first-round selection and a top-8 protected 2027 first-round pick.
After news of the trade broke, the conversation immediately shifted to Harden’s current contract and what his future in Philly might look like. That question was quickly answered, though, as Shams Charania of The Athletic reported in a tweet that Harden will be opting into his $47.3 million player option for next season.
Harden will be under contract with the Sixers for the rest of this season and the whole 2022-23 season. However, things get a little more tricky after that.
The arrival of Harden is a $223 million ticking time bomb.
In the next six months, James Harden may sign the following maximum extension:
$47,366,760 $47,366,760 $47,366,760 $47,366,760 $47, (player option) $49,735,098 $49,735,098 $49,735,098 $49,735,0 $53,713,905 (24-25) 57,692,712 $57,692,712 $57,692,712 $57,692,712 $ $61,671,519 for days 26-27 $270,179,994 in total
According to Spotrac, Harden would make more on this contract than he has in his whole career.
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) February 10, 2022
It’s no surprise that Harden chose to exercise his player option so quickly after joining the 76ers. He would have waited until the summer to sign with another club in free agency or work out a sign-and-trade deal with Brooklyn if he had remained with the Nets until the trade deadline.
Opting into his player option was a no-brainer given that he’s on a club he wants to remain with for the long haul (unless he unexpectedly changes his mind, of course). Allow me to explain.
Harden’s $47.3 million salary for next season is guaranteed if he signs the option today. According to Spotrac, he’ll be able to sign a four-year, $233 million contract extension with the Sixers after that, which would pay him a stunning $61.7 million in 2026-27.
What is Philadelphia’s issue? Harden will be 33 years old when the Rockets decide to pay him $233 million, and he will be 36 when the $61.7 million comes in. By his mid-30s, almost everyone but LeBron James and Chris Paul has passed their peak, and Harden is a clear possibility to follow suit. This season, we’re already seeing symptoms of regression, as his 22.5 point per game average is the lowest since 2011-12, and his 33.2 percent 3-point shooting percentage is the lowest of his career.
Investing $233 million on a 33-year-old Harden next summer almost ensures that he and Embiid will be the team’s only two superstars until 2027.
In the following two years, the 76ers must win a championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRLlLZ zJfg
*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden} html,bodyheight:100% img,spanposition:absolute;width:100% ;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto;bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyheight:100% html,bodyhe spanheight:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black;text-shadow
For all the Sixers fans out there, this all sounds really bleak and dismal, but it misses the point of the deal. The 76ers have become real contenders for at least one championship in the next two years after adding Harden to their nucleus of Embiid and Tobias Harris.
To be honest, they need to do just that.
Embiid is at the top of his game right now, and although Harden’s efficiency has dropped this season, he’s still an unstoppable force who can create for his teammates like no one else. The Sixers have no reason not to win a championship in 2022 or 2023, with two of the greatest ten players in the NBA on their roster (and both on team-friendly contracts). Alternatively, both!
However, Embiid’s four-year, $196 million contract extension begins in 2023, the same year Harden becomes eligible for his $233 million contract extension. With those two contracts taking up the bulk of your cap room for four years, good luck putting together a championship-caliber squad.
The 76ers have a two-year championship window on their hands, after which it may be too late.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
RELATED: NBA Trade Deadline: 3 Moves the 76ers Should Make to Give Joel Embiid a Realistic Chance at a Championship
Related Tags
- 76ers starting 5
- philadelphia 76ers roster
- 76ers vs nets
