James Harden finally signed his new contract with the Philadelphia 76ers last week, a 2-year, $68.6 million pact that was one of the surprises of the NBA offseason.
Despite his status as a bona fide superstar, the former NBA MVP took a significant discount, which then allowed Philadelphia to make some key signings this summer.
As a result, Harden and the Sixers’ NBA 2022 odds of winning the championship are in much better shape overall. They are currently priced at 13.00, the eighth-lowest odds in the league. But can the Sixers actually succeed in their search for a first NBA title in nearly 40 years?
Read on as SBOTOP breaks down the Sixers’ offseason and why Harden and co. could be legitimate championship contenders.
Sixers get stronger, deeper
Last season’s playoffs unfolded in an unfortunately familiar way for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid suffered yet another freak playoff injury which kept him out of a couple of games in their series against the Miami Heat.
And after the Sixers traded Ben Simmons for James Harden, it was The Beard who played the role of left-handed, offensively inept point guard as they crashed out in the East semi-finals for the fourth time in five years.
There were a few factors that played into this latest episode of Sixers playoff failure, and one of them was their lack of depth. The Sixers hardly had any bench to speak of, which put too much pressure on the starters.
GM Daryl Morey sought to address that glaring weakness this offseason, and he has succeeded. First, Morey swung a trade for De’Anthony Melton, a player he had originally drafted with Houston in 2018. Melton is an athletic guard who shot a career-best 39 per cent from 3-point range last season, which seems like a fine fit alongside Harden.
Morey then added two more Rockets old boys in forwards PJ Tucker and Danuel House in free agency. Those two deals would not have been possible if it hadn’t for the huge NBA 2022 news that James Harden would take an enormous discount on his next contract.
With those three new players, the Sixers have improved their depth by adding three capable defenders who are also decent 3-point shooters. On paper, they fit perfectly with Harden, who is a defensive liability that needs shooters around him to space the floor and hit the 3-point shots he can set up.
And if the Sixers can add another Rockets alum in veteran guard Eric Gordon – with whom they have been strongly linked – then they could get even more dangerous.
Embiid still elite
The Sixers’ offseason moves will not only be beneficial to Harden, but also to the Sixers’ other superstar, Joel Embiid. The All-Star big man had another outstanding season as he won the scoring championship with a career-high 30.6 points, and added 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks to finish second in NBA MVP voting behind Nikola Jokic for the second straight year.
Now heading into his age 28 season, Embiid is entering the prime years of his career, which makes it even more important for Philadelphia to surround him with as much talent as possible to compete for a championship.
The Harden-Embiid pick-and-roll was one of the most effective plays in all of basketball as they quickly struck up a strong connection upon teaming up together. And with more capable shooters around Embiid, that play has the potential to be even more lethal this upcoming campaign.
Harden can still help
Based on his performance last season for both the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers, particularly in the playoffs, it seems that the James Harden that was once a perennial MVP candidate is now gone.
At age 32, with nearly 1,000 regular-season games played and a rash of hamstring injuries in recent years, Harden’s body is starting to break down to the point where he is no longer among the truly elite superstars in the NBA.
But that’s not to say Harden is washed up and no longer capable of contributing. He still averaged some impressive numbers last season, with 22 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists in 65 total games. Although, he shot just 41 per cent, the lowest since his rookie year, and a career-low 33 per cent on 3-pointers.
But the great thing about Harden’s situation in Philadelphia is that he no longer needs to be the one-man offence that he often was in Houston. He now has Embiid and young guard Tyrese Maxey to help shoulder the offensive load during the regular season, which could help keep him fresh for the postseason. The added shooting provided by the Sixers’ new signings could also help give Harden the space he needs to be more effective.
And perhaps more importantly, he can finally begin to make alterations to his playing style now that he is entering a new stage in his career. With his move to take significantly less money in order for the team to sign Tucker and House, Harden sent a clear message that he is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win, so that may very well include altering his game. If Harden does succeed in adjusting his game and becoming the perfect complimentary star alongside Embiid and around an improved supporting cast, the Sixers could very well be a top contender for the NBA championship next season.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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