When Will the Philadelphia 76ers Get Good Again

When the Philadelphia 76ers fabricated this season'southward biggest move at the NBA merchandise deadline by trading three-time All-Star Ben Simmons for ten-fourth dimension All-Star James Harden, many thought they would be in a much better long-term position to debate for a title.

Well, just over iii months afterwards, the 76ers observe themselves out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals yet again, losing in six games to the Miami Heat instead of seven games like they did last flavour to the Atlanta Hawks with Simmons apart of their roster.

As it turns out, acquiring Harden did not evangelize Philadelphia with a championship right away and it seems like they accept a lot more questions to be answered now with James Harden on their roster compared to Ben Simmons.

Time-and-time again, the 76ers have failed to build a sustainable roster from within and the Simmons-Harden situation is just the "icing on the cake" for what has been a management disaster.

Losing in the playoffs is non necessarily problematic for this organisation, as it is very difficult to win a title present, simply it is the way that they lost in back-to-back seasons now that casts a shadow of dubiousness on this franchise.

Up 2-1 in their semifinals series over the Hawks last season, the 76ers forced a Game vii and then lost on their abode court as many began to question their motivation and willingness to desire to compete for a title.

This season, the 76ers were down 0-2 to the Heat, evened the series up at 2-2, and then went on to lose the following two games. In Game 6, which ended upward beingness the final game of their season, the Sixers looked like they quit early on on in the tertiary quarter and all game long, James Harden looked like he did not desire to be there.

Quite honestly, James Harden looked like he did not want to be in the playoffs at all, as he actually did not positively impact the 76ers' chances of winning whatsoever this season.

Harden's Struggles Aid In Sixers' Downfall

Harden turned into a liability for his team very quickly in the playoffs and while his numbers were not bad per se, they definitely were not numbers we would await to run into from the ten-fourth dimension All-Star and onetime league MVP.

In 21 regular season games with the 76ers this flavor, Harden averaged 21.0 points, seven.i rebounds, 10.5 assists and shot 32.6% from three-point range. In 12 playoff games this year, he averaged 18.half-dozen points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.6 assists and shot 36.8% from deep.

Maybe he only needs a full offseason to rest and become his mind right, but at 32-years-old, it is fourth dimension nosotros start request questions about how much James Harden has left in the tank mentally.

The 76ers are at present his 3rd team in two seasons and with all of the public shaming surrounding the All-Star guard, plus the fact that he is no longer "the guy," there are definitely serious doubts about if he will ever be the same player again.

Heading into the offseason, the 76ers are going to face a massive decision, one that could wind up existence the downfall of what they thought would be a dynasty.

This determination revolves effectually the All-Star that they gave up a ton of assets for whose contract is set to expire post-obit the 2022-23 season.

James Harden'due south Contract Situation

James Harden has a $47.3 million player option for next season and while it was said around the trade borderline that he would be opting out to aid the 76ers build the roster effectually him, it seems similar the former MVP would exist foolish to do so at this indicate.

His value has dropped off tremendously since joining the Sixers and now, talk of a possible long-term extension is starting to fade.

On Friday, ESPN'south Brian Windhorst stated that nobody around the league believes Harden volition receive a max contract extension from the 76ers. Making $47 million alone during the 2022-23 season is very damaging to the Sixers equally an system, especially if Harden is not going to be their No. 1 talent on the floor each and every night.

While he has stated "I'll exist here," referring to staying with Philadelphia through the 2022-23 flavour, James Harden'southward long-term future with the 76ers and in the NBA is definitely upwards for word.

Should he opt into his player option for side by side flavour and not be whatsoever better of a player than he has shown since coming to Philadelphia at the trade deadline in February, and so it is hard to believe that the team will expect to invest a ton of money in him, especially since Harden will be 33-years-old and ready to turn 34 following the determination of the 2022-23 season.

Not thinking about the repercussions of what could happen, this merchandise the 76ers fabricated at the trade deadline for James Harden could ultimately go down equally one of the worst trades in NBA history.

They are already a taxpaying team and with Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid having large, max-level contracts besides, the 76ers take no mode to go along building for the future.

This organization is in "title mode" right now and the fact that they take not advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2001 is a bad sign for the future of this franchise.

Information technology is going to be very interesting to see what changes full general manager Elton Brand and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey make to the 76ers in the offseason, especially since they are "married" to James Harden'due south contract should he opt into his player choice.

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Source: https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/rumors/whats-next-for-james-harden-philadelphia-76ers-entering-the-offseason

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