3 teams with the most to lose in NBA free agency
By Jakob Ashlin
Teams with the most to lose in NBA free agency: 1. Philadelphia 76ers
According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, James Harden is expected to sign with the Houston Rockets in free agency.
If that comes to fruition, the Sixers will become one of the biggest losers of the offseason. During his time in Philadelphia, Harden altered his game to fit in with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. In 2022-23, the three-time scoring champion led the league in assists (10.7). His usage percentage of 25.0 percent was his lowest mark since 2011-12. Despite the playoff disappointment, the Sixers were a 54-win team, and Harden’s playmaking was integral to that success.
If Harden departs for Space City, the Sixers will be left with little cap space and zero picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. In addition, the Rockets have the cap space to sign Harden outright, so they have no incentive to participate in a sign-and-trade. With that in consideration, it will be extremely difficult to acquire a second star to pair with Embiid.
The 2023 Sixers were not good enough to win the title. Next season, they could run it back with a worse version of that roster.
Next. The best NBA Draft pick of all time at every slot. dark
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