James Harden to sign short-term extension with Sixers / News - Basketnews.com

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Two weeks before the NBA free agency starts (June 30), James Harden will most likely re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a shorter-term contract extension, according to Bleacher Reports' Jake Fischer.

James Harden

MIN:37.64PTS:21.49 (57.24%)REB:7.36As:10ST:1.18BL:0.58TO:4.34GM:77ProfileNBA2021/2022

The All-Star guard and the franchise appear to be aligned to the opportunity to compete for a championship with Joel Embiid as the star player.

However, per the same report, Sixers ownership has been resistant to the idea of giving Harden a full four-year maximum contract extension beyond his 2022-23 option season, or the five-year deal that Harden would be eligible for if he chose to decline his $47.4 million player option for next season.

Signing a two-year extension after his option season to create a new three-year framework would also provide Harden with greater optionality for his own career. Since Philadelphia acquired him in a trade in mid-February, the All-Star guard could wait until August 10 before signing an extension, more than six months after the Sixers sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to Brooklyn for the 32-year-old former MVP.

If Harden waits until August 10 to sign his extension, he could receive an 8% raise on the second year of the extension, which would net him a total of $150.8 million, according to cap calculations provided to B/R. If Harden opts out, the maximum he can earn on a new three-year deal would be $150.7 million.

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