Will James Harden play for the Sixers in the upcoming edition of NBA? Daryl Morey keen on pursuing 'the Beard'
Daryl Morey's clearly planning on ringing in the changes ahead of the NBA 2020-21 season. The former Houston Rockets GM, now the president of the Philadelphia 76ers is expected to add James "The Beard" Harden to the Sixers rosters. However, the task is easier said than done as Harden is under contract with the Rockets through 2023.
According to Stadium's Shams Charania — "As of right now, it is an emphatic no from the Rockets side. It’s really a non-starter for that organization. Daryl Morey, though, has a history of being active on the trade market, pursuing the different opportunities that may exist out there and I wouldn’t expect it to be any different now that he’s in Philadelphia.” That Morey is keen on acquiring Harden shouldn't come as a surprise. He brought him in the 2012 trade from Thunder.
The results were immediate. Harden went from the sixth Man of the Year to the NBA's MVP in the 2017-18 season and led the league in scoring in each of the last three years according to Yahoo. At 31, Harden now has the player option for the 2022-23 season with the Rockets. The extension was a whopping $171 million which he signed in 2017. Morey's secret of success has been his relentless pursuit of an asset. There's ample proof when he attempted to sign the Mavs Dirk Nowitzki and no matter how bleak the scenarios look, there's every chance he'll take the slightest of opportunities.
The Rockets with Harden made the playoffs this season and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. But they did have some moments of brilliance. Harden made headlines when he played against his former team, Thunder, where his defensive abilities came to the fore, something not many would associate Harden with.
He struggled to shoot but came through on the biggest play with a defensive stop. With 2.6 seconds left on the clock, Harden blocked Luguentz Dort's 27-foot jumper for a three-pointer that actually did the trick to help Houston notch up their win. Soon after, forward Robert Covington with 22 points for the night split a pair of foul shots to give the side a two-point lead with 1.1 seconds left.
Rockets fans will also remember him for his Game 1 performance against the Lakers in the playoffs. For all the talk about fatigue and an emotionally draining victory against the Thunder, Harden was a powerhouse of energy in that game, when Houston made sure it had to lift off with a comprehensive 112-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. 'The Beard' had his offense mode switched on as he blitzed past the Lakers' defense to slam in 36 points.
To answer the question of whether Harden might leave the Rockets, it's a slim chance to be honest although the final decision does lie with him. At the moment, their strategy is centered around adding players who could ably assist and play around him. So the course correction will probably see one more season. Plus, they have a new coach in Stephen Silas, a man known for his great relationships with NBA superstars. Harden and Russell Westbrook will be keen on working with him to do even better in the upcoming edition.
Or, there's also that option where he can request a trade, although his free-agent status won't be available till 2022. In the end, it just might boil down to Harden and his interest. Are we in for a surprise by "The Beard"? Only time will tell.