Haynes noted the Suns will "likely" guarantee all of the 38-year-old's $30.8 million salary for next season, but they have until June 28 to decide. Per ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Suns are "expected to explore" deals for Paul. There have already been rumblings about potential trades involving Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. New governor Mat Ishbia has been busy trying to put his imprint on the franchise, starting with the February trade for Kevin Durant and firing head coach Monty Williams on Sunday following a second-round playoff series loss to the Denver Nuggets. Boston.įew teams will be more fascinating to watch this offseason than the Phoenix Suns. But the 2022-23 NBA MVP has had his own postseason struggles, including a 15-point effort on 5-of-18 shooting in Game 7 vs. This puts even more pressure on Embiid to elevate his game in the playoffs. Even when he turns in two brilliant games in the same series, such as Games 1 and 4 against Boston, they get mixed in with a number of duds. Harden has proved himself to not be a reliable playoff performer throughout his career. Philly's 54 wins were its most in a single season since the 2000-01 team went 56-26. There were also times this season when the Embiid-Harden tandem played well. If the front office can find someone to take Tobias Harris' $39.3 million expiring salary for next season in a trade, it would help them as they try to fill out the roster around Embiid. They would have the $12.2 non-taxpayer midlevel exception available if he signs with another team that has cap space, per ESPN's Bobby Marks. The 76ers don't have an obvious path to adding another high-level player if Harden leaves. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA draft could be added to that group after Tuesday's lottery results, though Michael Scotto of HoopsHype noted rival executives believe that pick will be shopped in preparation for "an aggressive push" to sign Harden. They are already building around a young core with Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr. The Rockets wouldn't seem to fit either criteria. One notable nugget from Haynes' report is that Harden "will only entertain suitors that present a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for the star to be himself" on the court. "Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months, sources said, a remarkable possibility given that he requested and received a trade out of the franchise less than two years ago," he wrote. The Houston Rockets have been cited as a potential landing spot for Harden going back to a Christmas Day report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. He isn't the same player he was at his peak, but he still averaged an NBA-high 10.7 assists per game and shot 38.5 percent from three-point range in 58 starts this season.Īny speculation about where Harden might play next will almost certainly start with the team where he became a superstar and won an MVP award in 2017-18. This offseason might be Harden's last best chance to secure one more massive contract.
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