The Philadelphia 76ers were rumored to be in the mix for Damian Lillard and even Kyrie Irving in the offseason, but that would obviously require either a trade or a sign-and-trade.
Also, Daryl Morey has always been a James Harden guy, and that’s not going to change overnight, so he’s more likely to go all-in for the former MVP than any other player in this league.
With that in mind, Timothy Legler of ESPN believes there’s no way the Sixers won’t do whatever it takes to get Harden back next season, mostly because they don’t seem to have another choice right now.
.@LegsESPN on James Harden potentially re-signing with Philly:
"I think he's going to be in Philadelphia. I think it's the best place for him to be to have a chance to legitimately contend and win." pic.twitter.com/lZ7QBZPsJb
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 29, 2023
Per Legler, it’s either Harden or no one for the Sixers, and letting him walk away for nothing would be simply unacceptable.
Legler adds that the Sixers know Harden can help them dominate in the regular season, which obviously puts them in a solid and favorable position for the playoffs.
Then again, he also says that it’s been more than evident and proven that Harden cannot lead a team to success in the playoffs with that style of play of his, which is another factor the Sixers oughta consider right now.
Harden was also rumored to be interested in a potential reunion with the Houston Rockets, the team with the most cap space in the league right now.
Even so, that reunion might not be in the best interest of either party, and the Sixers will still give him a better shot at championship contention, and it’s not like they cannot pay him the big bucks too.
NEXT: Brian Windhorst Makes His James Harden Prediction
