Rumors about James Harden being open to a reunion with the Houston Rockets in free agency this summer have reached a fever pitch. Although a “high-ranking Sixers source with knowledge of the team’s operation” told Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic that they are “unconcerned” about potentially losing him this summer, that confidence may largely be tied to their ability to offer Harden a more immediate shot at winning a title.
Since the Sixers have full Bird rights on Harden, they would typically be able to offer him both one more year and higher annual raises (8 percent) than any of his free-agent suitors this offseason.