Sixers: James Harden Trade Looming After Picking $35.6 Million Option With Philly

James Harden - Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six

(Photo : Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - James Harden (#1) of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on prior to game six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center on May 11, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

James Harden has exercised his player option for the 2023-24 NBA season on his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he does not plan on staying on the team, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

BREAKING: 76ers G James Harden is picking up his $35.6 million option and sides are beginning to work together in exploring trade scenarios, sources tell ESPN. It’s expected that Harden has played his last game for Philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/GguWgysfNZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2023

The 33-year-old guard and Sixers management are now exploring trade scenarios, and it is widely believed that Harden has played his last game in a Sixers uniform.

Harden's opt-in is worth $35.6 million in salary for the upcoming season, and the franchise made it clear throughout the process that they did not see a long-term future with the 2018 NBA MVP, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Sixers were eliminated in the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where Harden put up 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Heat and Clippers Expected To Chase Harden

Charania added that the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers are expected to be in the running to acquire the ten-time All-Star.

“The Clippers and Heat are expected to emerge in this process for (James) Harden, I’m told. Teams across the league understand a player like Harden will likely reach a preferred destination…”

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania updates us on James Harden. pic.twitter.com/HpxYR6aRMW
— The Rally (@TheRally) June 29, 2023

While unrestricted free agency or a sign-and-trade might be the more ideal move for Harden if he wanted a new scenery instead of opting in his contract, there weren't any interested teams with enough cap space to pay the league's leader in assists more than $35.6 million this upcoming season.

This is Harden's third trade request in the last two years, having done the same with the Houston Rockets in 2021 and the Brooklyn Nets last year.