<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> has been heavily linked with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> after the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals. It makes sense, since the guard could find in South Florida the chance to contend he never really had in Portland.



Erik Spoelstra’s team, meanwhile, would definitely use a player of Dame’s caliber. The Heat have made deep playoff runs in recent years, but in the end, it felt like they’ve always lacked another star to get the job done.


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However, Lillard may not want to leave at all. And even if he does, the Portland Trail Blazers will probably have high demands. But Miami may not have to worry about this, as it looks like another opportunity has presented itself.



<h2>Rumor: Heat may go after James Harden</h2>



According to Shams Charania, the Miami Heat could join the race for James Harden, who is reportedly opting into his $35.6M player option with the 76ers to work on a trade out of Philadelphia:



“The Clippers and Heat are expected to emerge in this process for (James) Harden, I’m told. Teams across the league understand a player like Harden will likely reach a preferred destination,” Shams said on The Rally.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">“The Clippers and Heat are expected to emerge in this process for (James) Harden, I’m told. Teams across the league understand a player like Harden will likely reach a preferred destination…” NBA Insider <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> updates us on James Harden. <a href="https://t.co/HpxYR6aRMW">pic.twitter.com/HpxYR6aRMW</a>— The Rally (@TheRally) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRally/status/1674553216518815744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#20230629#BUS#20340"></div>


Harden’s availability will certainly draw interest in the market. Whether his profile suits the Heat Culture is debatable, but Miami clearly needs another All-Star next to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

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NBA Rumors: Heat may have found an alternative to Damian Lillard - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Heat may have found an alternative to Damian Lillard

miniaturas

It seems to be over between <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a>. According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, the player has exercised his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season.



As a consequence, the next step will be definitely a trade as Harden didn’t consider declining the option to become a free agent. Furthermore, the information points out that the star player never even thought in a new deal with Philadelphia.


<div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#20230618#BUS#13482"></div>


So, in what should be a major move in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>, James Harden is officially on the trading<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/lebron-james-remains-silent-after-blockbuster-trades-in-nba-20230623-BUS-16505.html"> block</a>. The guard is 33-years old and arrived to the Sixers on February of 2022. Now, another change of team is on the way.



<h2>James Harden: Where will he be traded by the Sixers?</h2>



The decision by James Harden is very intriguing as he could have easily chosen to stay with the Sixers looking into new a four-year contract. The amount of money would have surpassed $200 million. 







Nevertheless, when both parts realized this long-term solution wasn’t the best, they started to work together in the alternative. By exercising his option, the Clippers and the Knicks have become favorites to land Harden in a blockbuster trade. 



As it’s happening with many players around the league, like Bradley Beal with the Suns or Chris Paul going to the Warriors, the NBA stars have established as a priority joining contenders. That’s why, though the Houston Rockets could be a possibility, Los Angeles and New York are much stronger options.



For example, if James Harden joins the Clippers, it will be a tremendous team alongside familiar faces such as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Meanwhile, the Knicks are on the rise after they reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.


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However, according to the latest reports, the Sixers haven’t ruled out the possibility of keeping James Harden. Daryl Morey will make a final push to convince him. The big problem is the All-Star has made clear he wants out and that could produce another major controversy in case they retain him.

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James Harden could get shocking news from Sixers - Bolavip US

James Harden could get shocking news from Sixers

For months,<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> James Harden’s</a> future with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> has been a talking point around <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> circles. Even at this point in his career, he should still gauge some interest as a free agent.



Harden is expected to decline his player option for the upcoming campaign, thus becoming an unrestricted free agent. Even so, not many teams will be willing to meet his reported salary pretensions.



That’s why, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Rockets</a> are no longer interested in a reunion with him, as Harden isn’t interested in taking any sort of pay cut.



<h2>Rockets No Longer Want James Harden</h2>



“In recent days, I’ve understood that Houston is no longer an option for James,” Iko said. “I would call them out of the running. From the Rockets’ perspective, that makes sense, too, considering James was never interested in taking some kind of discount – not two years in a row. He made, what, $34-35 million this year? He could stand to make 50 to 52. He was not going to take a discount, and the Rockets were never going to pay him that kind of max money.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The IkoSystem — Rockets Free Agency Preview <a href="https://t.co/dL2cgzWr5T">https://t.co/dL2cgzWr5T</a>— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyIko/status/1674085405099163649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Clippers Are A New Dark Horse For Harden}</h2>



And now that the Rockets are no longer in the mix for his services, the insider points out that the Los Angeles Clippers could be another team to look out for in his sweepstakes:



“Another team that I’ve heard recently that is a dark horse, that’s kind of watching the situation is actually the Los Angeles Clippers,” Iko said. “Phoenix, the Bradley Beal trade took them out of the equation.”


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Even so, the Clippers will have to figure out what to do with either Paul George and/or Kawhi Leonard before even thinking of making a run at Harden, which obviously makes it more difficult.

There's a new dark horse to land James Harden - Bolavip US

There's a new dark horse to land James Harden

It’s not a secret that the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Rockets</a> want to get <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a> back. They want to compete for an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>championship and simply aren’t good enough right now.



Harden was obviously one of the greatest players to ever wear that jersey. And even though he didn’t leave the team on good terms, they’re willing to bury the hatchet.



However, as much as they would love to have him back, they know he could still stay with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a>, which is why they’ve put together a list of potential targets in case they fail to get him.



<h2>Houston Rockets Have Multiple Targets</h2>



(Transcript via Evan Sidery)



“Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez from the Milwaukee Bucks; Fred VanVleet from the Toronto Raptors; Bruce Brown from the Denver Nuggets; Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets; Jordan Clarkson from the Utah Jazz, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura from the Los Angeles Lakers; Dillon Brooks from the Memphis Grizzlies, Donte DiVincenzo from the Golden State Warriors and Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs are all linked with the Rockets this offseason.



Houston projects to have around $60 million in cap space to reshape their roster for new head coach Ime Udoka.”



Truth be told, the Rockets might as well be better off with some of these targets, as Harden isn’t getting any younger, and he’ll take plenty of touches away from their rising stars.

Rockets have a plan B if they don't get James Harden back - Bolavip US

Rockets have a plan B if they don't get James Harden back

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> shocked the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> by trading for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> last year. However, it’s safe to say things haven’t gone according to plan so far. If not, we wouldn’t be talking about his future.







The Beard has failed to bring immediate success to the City of Brotherly Love, when that was exactly what the team was looking for with his arrival. Instead, nothing seemed to change for the Sixers in the playoffs.



There were moments in which Harden found chemistry with Joel Embiid, but not when the team really needed it. The Sixers are reportedly not giving up on Harden yet, but they would only re-sign him on a ‘team-friendly’ deal.



<h2>Rumor: Sixers would only bring back Harden on a team-friendly contract</h2>



(Via Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice)



“Harden returning to the Sixers on a team-friendly deal remains the focus of Philadelphia’s offseason, and it looks increasingly likely that they might be able to make that happen. The Houston Rockets are Harden’s biggest suitor outside of Philadelphia, but the indication is that they are not willing to go over the top with years or dollars to sign him specifically.



“Sources told PhillyVoice that Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta wants to establish a more solid culture alongside the arrival of head coach Ime Udoka, and Houston has shown interest in free agents Fred Van Vleet, Brook Lopez, and Dillon Brooks, among others.”


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Harden is not getting any younger (he turns 34 in August) and his constant changes of scenery also don’t help him at the time of pursuing a bigger contract. If the Sixers bring him back, it will probably be one of his last opportunities to contend.

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NBA Rumors: 76ers want James Harden back on one condition - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: 76ers want James Harden back on one condition

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> paired <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joel-embiid">Joel Embiid</a> with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> last year, hoping it would bring better results in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> playoffs. However, nothing seemed to change, which is why the front office is making moves.







Doc Rivers is no longer the head coach, and Nick Nurse will instead be in charge of taking the Sixers to a deep postseason run. However, the roster could look different next season.



Harden’s future with the team looks uncertain, but Daryl Morey is expected to try and get new players to the City of Brotherly Love anyway. Besides, Montrezl Harrell may be playing elsewhere in the 2023-24.



<h2>Report: Montrezl Harrell declines player option with Sixers</h2>



According to NBA Insider Chris Haynes, Harrell is declining his his $2.7 million player option to become a free agent this offseason. The center has been backup to Embiid in Philly, where his playing time decreased significantly since the All-Star break.


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Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the 29-year-old prefers to explore his options in the open market. Will Harden join him in free agency? Only time will tell.

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NBA Rumors: Joel Embiid could lose another 76ers teammate apart from James Harden - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Joel Embiid could lose another 76ers teammate apart from James Harden

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> had the perfect opportunity to get to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> Finals — or at least the Conference Finals — for the first time in two decades. They wasted it by failing to close the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics</a> out not once but twice.



Now, they’re looking at a key offseason. They made a solid move by replacing Doc Rivers with Nick Nurse, and now they need to focus on strengthening their roster around Joel Embiid.



And with all the rumors of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a> opting out of his deal, they might need to look at the rest of the league for a suitable replacement. Notably, Brian Windhorst of ESPN believes Bradley Beal could be available.



<h2>NBA Rumors: Bradley Beal Could Be Available</h2>



“Beal has a unique contract unlike anybody else’s in the NBA,” Windhorst said. “He has a no-trade clause, which means not only can he decide if he wants to leave the Wizards, but he can decide who and what he is traded for.”



“It makes it extremely difficult to find a deal, and Michael Winger has said he has not made up his mind yet, but that indecision has led teams to keep a very close eye on the Wizards as they not only have Beal but big free agents Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis,” added Windhorst.



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="🚨 WINDY WATCH 🚨 Wizards dealing Bradley Beal? | Get Up" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oiPeeVRt1z4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>Sixers Could Lead The Race For Beal</h2>



Should that be the case, then NBA insider Bill Simmons believes the Sixers should be the obvious frontrunners to acquire his services, as they almost traded for him before Harden arrived:



“My odds on favorite is Philadelphia and I don’t even think it’s close,” Simmons said on his podcast. “Beal and Embiid, they’re friends. Embiid was trying to get him two years ago, which I kept telling people on this podcast. They ended up going with Harden instead, Embiid was pushing hard for Beal. Harden is going to leave.”



Beal has constantly affirmed his commitment to the Wizards, but he’s not going to compete for a ring there, so he might as well realize it and take his talents somewhere else.

Sixers identify another potential James Harden replacement - Bolavip US

Sixers identify another potential James Harden replacement

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> hoped Doc Rivers would lead them to a championship, and they did everything to help the coach. However, not even the trade for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> was enough to change his fate.



Rivers’ poor record at crucial playoff games only got worse this year, with his team blowing a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics to once again get eliminated in the Conference Semifinals.



After three straight postseason shortcomings, the team decided to make a coaching change by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-news-nick-nurse-explains-why-he-chose-joel-embiids-sixers-over-kevin-durants-suns-20230602-BUS-5663.html">hiring Nick Nurse</a>. Rivers recently opened up on his time in Philly, describing his experience of coaching Harden as ‘challenging.’



<h2>Doc Rivers says coaching James Harden was a challenge</h2>



“It was challenging,” Rivers told Bill Simmons on his podcast. “More because we were fighting two things, and not visually fighting. But James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win in some ways is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball, and coming back to the ball. I would have loved to have him younger.



“At times, to get him to move and play the way I needed him to play [was challenging], I thought the first half of the year we were the best team in the game. I thought James was playing perfect basketball, he was a point guard on the team, and he was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. And then in the second half he started scoring more, and I thought we got more stagnant at times.”



Many things have been said about Rivers and Harden’s relationship, but the former Sixers coach seems to have no hard feelings. However, it will always be a shame that things didn’t work out on the court.

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Doc Rivers makes painful admission about coaching James Harden at Sixers - Bolavip US

For years, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>fans have wondered just how good<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> James Harden</a> could be if he put his career first and foremost. Even when he was an MVP candidate with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Rockets</a>, it seemed like basketball wasn’t his No. 1 priority.



That was again on full display last season. He seemed more motivated than ever in the offseason, but had to take a day off to go party in Las Vegas right in the middle of the playoffs.



Ironically, Gilbert Arenas believes he needs to go to Florida and join the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> to be at his best, as Pat Riley won’t tolerate his shenanigans and will make him focus on his career.



<h2>Gilbert Arenas Says James Harden Needs Pat Riley To Be At His Best</h2>



“Miami,” Arenas said. “Do you know who Pat Riley is? Pat had Magic, and he had LeBron James and D-Wade– With Pat Riley, he [Harden] has no choice [but to buy into that culture].”



“They had Shaquille O’Neal, they had Gary Payton, they had Antoine Walker. They clubbed so much they built a barbershop inside the strip club,” continued Arenas. “And a basketball court. Before they won that championship ring, that’s what they did. He broke them.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">What team should be trying to get James Harden this summer? I SAY THE MIAMI HEAT. <a href="https://t.co/Wygezvq3fb">pic.twitter.com/Wygezvq3fb</a>— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GilsArenaShow/status/1666886877130158080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Well, Arenas has always been known for thinking outside of the box, and this is definitely an interesting take, but it makes sense. Now, whether they’ll get it done is a whole different story.

Gilbert Arenas explains why James Harden needs to sign with the Miami Heat - Bolavip US

Gilbert Arenas explains why James Harden needs to sign with the Miami Heat

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> fell short of their goal again. They were legit <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship contenders for most of the season and even had the MVP in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joel-embiid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joel Embiid.</a>



Doc Rivers’ tenure run its course, and their stars’ underperforming in the playoffs has become a yearly tradition, so they might have to look for someone else to carry the load when it matters the most.



With that in mind, Brett Seigel of ClutchPoints reports that they could be looking at making a run at Fred VanVleet to replace <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a>, who’s likely to opt out of the final year of his deal and leave.



<h2>Sixers Might Replace James Harden With Fred VanVleet</h2>



“Harden owns a $35.64 million player option for the 2023-24 season that many around the league are anticipating him opting out of,” Siegel wrote. “Leaving the Sixers after just one full season and signing elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent is a very real possibility for Harden, which is why Philadelphia has begun giving thought as to who could replace the former league MVP. According to league sources close to the organization, Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has emerged as a potential replacement for Harden this offseason.”



<h2>VanVleet Has Strong Praise For Nick Nurse</h2>



VanVleet is also expected to pursue a bigger deal in free agency. And with the Sixers hiring former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, it seems like there’s a real possibility of a reunion:



“He’s just a different voice that they haven’t heard before, something outside the box who is going to bring new ideas, creative ideas,” VanVleet said of his former coach joining the Sixer. “It will be a breath of fresh air for them and anytime you’re changing head coaches, that’s pretty much what you’re looking for. A new identity, a new voice for guys to kind of rally behind. I think he’ll have some success. Hopefully not too much if I’m not there and I’m staying in Toronto, then we want him to fail. But other than that, I am happy that he landed on his feet.”


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The table seems set for the Sixers to at least consider signing the former NBA champion, who’s played himself into borderline All-Star consideration for years now.

Sixers have found a replacement for James Harden, claims insider - Bolavip US

Sixers have found a replacement for James Harden, claims insider

The season is over for all but two teams. While the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> prepare for the 2023 NBA Finals, the rest of the pack is starting to think about next year. 



In fact, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Philadelphia 76ers</a> have already started to make changes aiming to come back stronger. After yet another failure in the postseason, the team has decided to move on from head coach Doc Rivers.



That wouldn’t be all, though. The Sixers have a big decision to make in regard to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a>, whose future in the City of the Brotherly Love looks uncertain. However, it looks like the team has already identified his potential replacement.



<h2>Rumor: Sixers see Fred VanVleet as an alternative to Harden</h2>



(Via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints)



“Harden owns a $35.64 million player option for the 2023-24 season that many around the league are anticipating him opting out of. Leaving the Sixers after just one full season and signing elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent is a very real possibility for Harden, which is why Philadelphia has begun giving thought as to who could replace the former league MVP. According to league sources close to the organization, Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has emerged as a potential replacement for Harden this offseason”



While Fred VanVleet is not exactly an upgrade to Harden, he could fit very well next to Joel Embiid. Besides, he has already won a championship with the Toronto Raptors. Even so, we’ll have to wait to know whether The Beard is actually walking out of Philly.

NBA Rumors: Sixers may have identified a potential target to replace James Harden - Bolavip US

When the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Sixers</a> went after <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a>, they hoped to immediately become title contenders. However, The Beard has failed to change things in Philadelphia as the team’s wait to make the Conference Finals continues.



Unlike last year, when the 76ers decided to run things back, the front office has already made a significant change by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-coach-candidates-for-the-philadelphia-76ers-20230517-BUS-1665.html">firing head coach Doc Rivers</a>. Now, the question is whether they’ll head into next season with a similar roster or more changes will be made.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-rumors-potential-destinations-for-james-harden-20230516-BUS-1389.html">Harden’s future</a> will be one of the biggest talking points this offseason, since he has a player option for the 2023-24 campaign before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2024. But it looks like he wants to hit the open market this summer.



<h2>Rumor: James Harden intends to become a free agent this offseason</h2>



(Via Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report)



“Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden intends to decline his $35.6 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer in order to secure a long-term deal, league sources tell Bleacher Report.



“… The Houston Rockets have long been a rumored destination, but sources say Harden will only entertain suitors that present a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for the star to be himself, sources say.”



Haynes added that, considering Harden’s desire to be part of a competitive team, the Sixers remain the “logical” option for him. The Beard, however, said after the loss to the Celtics that his partnership with Joel Embiid was just getting started.



“We’re only one year in,” Harden said. “We played against a team that’s been together for quite a few years now. They were in the finals last year so they know what it takes to get back there and this is only Year 1 for us, full year so it was great.”


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We shouldn’t expect him to make a decision anytime soon, so Harden could be involved in another months-long saga regarding his future. In the meantime, we’ll have to keep an eye on how the Sixers move forward after falling short again.

NBA Rumors: James Harden may have reached a decision about his future - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: James Harden may have reached a decision about his future

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers’</a> promising season came to a rather predictable end. Just like what happens with most<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Former-Clippers-star-blames-Doc-Rivers-for-never-winning-a-ring-20230421-0016.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Doc Rivers’</a> teams, they crumbled under pressure when facing one of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA’s</a> finest.



This has been a common trend for years now. The Sixers put together a solid squad and had two legit stars, but it still felt like they were never actual championship contenders.



And now that <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">James Harden</a> could opt out of the final year of his deal, ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reports that he wasn’t exactly thrilled to play for Rivers again in the future.



<h2>James Harden Doesn’t Want To Play For Doc Rivers Anymore</h2>



“James Harden was not all that supportive of Doc Rivers in his press conference yesterday,” Shelbourne reported. “Behind the scenes, from what I’m told, one person said to me it would be hard for me to see James wanting to come back and play for Doc again. This is going to be a situation where those two decisions are linked.”



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ramonashelburne</a> James Harden coming back to the Sixers would depend on Doc Rivers as coach. “Behind the scenes, from what I’m told, one person said to me it would be hard for me to see James wanting to come back and play for Doc again.” <a href="https://t.co/RRTcwOcJLT">pic.twitter.com/RRTcwOcJLT</a>— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrossingBroad/status/1658223401213861892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Rockets Want Harden Back</h2>



Earlier this week, Adrian Wojnarowski reaffirmed the Houston Rockets’ interest in bringing Harden back, citing that not even landing the No. 1 pick would be enough to change that stance:



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">.<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wojespn</a> says there&apos;s "a very real possibility" that James Harden returns to Houston 👀 "If [the Rockets] win the lottery … and they&apos;re the ones who can draft Victor Wembanyama, my sense is that would not necessarily change the Rockets&apos; intentions to pursue James Harden." <a href="https://t.co/TvIXpkYxD3">pic.twitter.com/TvIXpkYxD3</a>— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GetUpESPN/status/1658098643923095552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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“And listen, it may ultimately be a leverage play for James Harden,” Woj said. “Houston may be his way to get him the kind of guaranteed money, long-term money he wants from Philly. But I wouldn’t underestimate it as just a leverage play. I think he’s very serious about returning. And Philadelphia now, they have strong relationships in that organization from Daryl Morey, starting with him in their front office. It’s going to be a really interesting couple of months.”


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The Rockets have put together a plethora of young talents, and adding Harden to that mix could be a volatile experiment. Whatever the case, it seems like he’s not going back to Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid sends message to Sixers\&#039; front office regarding James Harden\&#039;s future

NBA Draft 2023: How good is Victor Wembanyama? [Video]

NBA Rumors: James Harden didn't want Sixers to keep Doc Rivers - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: James Harden didn't want Sixers to keep Doc Rivers

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-finals-all-nba-champions-by-year-20210701-0003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022-2023 NBA season</a> is coming to an end, the<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/ringless-best-nba-players-that-have-never-won-a-ring-20210625-0009.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> regular season</a> was exciting and the playoffs since they began never stopped offering <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/nba-ring-2022-value-how-much-does-an-nba-championship-ring-cost-20220531-0039.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">electrifying games</a>.
But things will be different in the upcoming 2023-2024 season where some top names like Kyrie Irving, Kevin love, Fred VanVleet and others are expected to decide their future before the preseason.
Some top players had a good season like <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Why-did-James-Harden-give-his-shoes-to-a-child-after-game-4-against-Celtics-20230507-0026.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Harden</a> who was considered key for the Philadelphia 76ers to reach the postseason.
<h2>Who are the top 10 NBA free agents in 2023?</h2>
Most of the potential free agents want to improve their contracts and it is very likely that they will renegotiate their future with their current team but in case of not reaching an agreement they could choose to play in another city.
1.James Harden (76ers) – Potential free agent 2. Khris Middleton (Bucks) – Potential free agent 3. Draymond Green (Warriors) – Potential free agent 4. Fred VanVleet (Raptors) – Potential free agent 5.Kevin Love (Heat) 6. Kristaps Porzingis (Wizards) – Potential free agent 7.Nikola Vucevic (Bulls) 8. Kyrie Irving (Mavericks) 9. Russell Westbrook (Clippers) 10. D’Angelo Russell (Lakers)
Money plays a fundamental role in the decision of a free agent, but there is also the factor of reaching the postseason and being able to win an<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/steve-kerrs-championships-how-many-rings-does-the-warriors-coach-have-won-20220619-0033.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> NBA ring.</a>

Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2023: James Harden, Draymond Green and eight other players

Top 10 NBA Free Agents 2023: James Harden, Draymond Green and eight other players - Bolavip US

When it looked like the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers">Sixers</a> were finally ready to go the distance and challenge for a long-awaited <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> championship, they’ve once again let everyone down. For the third straight year in a row, Joel Embiid and company failed to get past the Conference Semifinals.



Philadelphia blew a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics, who destroyed Doc Rivers’ team in Game 7 to claim the ticket to the next round. Unsurprisingly, there are many question marks around the team, just like it happened a year ago.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/james-harden">James Harden</a> failed to silence his doubters and now his future in Philly looks up in the air, since he has a player option this offseason. Embiid said he will let the front office handle his teammate’s situation, but made it clear that he wants to continue playing next to Harden.



<h2>Joel Embiid says he wants James Harden to stay in Philadelphia</h2>



“I don’t know what’s going on and I know he has a player option so they can extend him,” Embiid said, as quoted by SixersWire. “That’s on those guys (the front office) to figure it out. I’m gonna stay out of it, but I still believe that me and him, we got the chance to win, but it’s gonna take more than us. We gotta look at ourselves. I gotta be better and I will be better. That’s what I’m focused on.



“All of us, we gotta come back and find ways to just keep improving and help the team,” he added. “You can’t win alone. I can’t win alone. Me and James, we just can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played 5-on-5 so we just need everybody to just try and keep finding ways to get better and we’ll be fine.”





His latter comments made a lot of noise, since he and Harden left much to be desired in this playoffs. Either way, Embiid still believes in the duo they form and what they can bring to the city of Philadelphia. In the next few months, we’ll see whether the front office thinks the same.

Joel Embiid sends message to Sixers' front office regarding James Harden's future - Bolavip US

Joel Embiid sends message to Sixers' front office regarding James Harden's future

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