James Harden does 76ers a solid with new two-year contract

James Harden’s new two-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers greatly helped the team add other players this offseason.

The Philadelphia 76ers‘ goal this offseason was to improve the team after they were eliminated in the second-round of the second-year in a row. They were able to get one of the more coveted players in free agency in PJ Tucker. As it turns out, that is all thanks to James Harden.

This offseason, the 76ers and Harden agreed to terms on a two-year deal, but it had yet to be finalized. On July 20, ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the contract is for a total of $68.6 million. Harden will earn $33 million for the 2022-23 season, and a $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 campaign.

James Harden helps 76ers with new contract

Wojnarowski continues, as he discussed Harden declining to pick up the $47.4 million option for the upcoming season, making him a free agent. Because of this move by Harden, the 76ers were allowed to sign Tucker to a three-year, $33 million contract using their full mid-level exception, and the bi-annual exception on Danuel House, who signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal.

In the days prior to the official details being reported, Harden told the Associated Press that he wanted to take less money this year so the team could sign players to help them contend.

Harden joined the 76ers at the trade deadline after he requested a trade off of a Brooklyn Nets team that included Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The 76ers acquired Harden and Paul Millsap from the Nets in exchange for Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry, and two first-round draft picks.

In 21 regular-season games with Philadelphia, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds, while posting a field goal percentage of 40.2 and a three-point percentage of 32.6. Harden averaged 18.6 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 12 playoff games.

Harden wanted to help the 76ers make it to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. These details reported by Wojnarowski show that he did just that to help them sign Tucker and House.