His largest decline occurred last season when he poured in 36.1 points in 78 regular season games and netted 31.6 in 11 postseason appearances. He has led the Rockets to the playoffs in each of his seven seasons, Harden’s scoring average finished below his regular season average five times. He has averaged 37.1 minutes in the regular season and 38.2 in the playoffs.ĭespite Harden posting these numbers and remaining relatively healthy, a major criticism and cause for concern has been him being unable to sustain them through the postseason. ![]() Harden has played in 606 of the Rockets’ 638 regular season games and all 73 playoff contests. He accrued these accolades and statistics while maintaining durability as well. Harden was named the 2018 MVP as well.īefore this season went on hiatus on March 11, the eight-time All-Star was leading the league in free throws (619), points scored (2,096) and three-pointers (271). In eight seasons with the Rockets, Harden has led the National Basketball Association (NBA) in assists once (2016-17), field goals made once (2018-19), three-pointers made twice (2017-2019), points scored three times (2014-2016, 2018-19) and free throws made five times (2014-2019). On October 27, 2012, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded reigning Sixth Man of the Year James Harden to the Houston Rockets as part of a nine-player trade. ![]() All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. How the Sixers navigate them over the final month of the regular season and into the playoffs could help dictate where he ends up signing this offseason. Questions about Harden's future aren't going away. Factor in cap holds for their other free agents, and they're likely to operate as an over-the-cap team regardless of what Harden decides to do. They already have $117.1 million in guaranteed salaries on their books for next season with only seven players under contract. If Harden walks, it isn't as though they'll suddenly have nearly $47 million of salary-cap space with which to replace him. However, the alternative is far worse for the Sixers. ![]() They don't have a single pick in this year's draft-they traded their first-rounder in the deal to acquire Harden last February, and the NBA stripped their second-round pick for tampering-and they'll likely have only the $7.0 million taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal if they do re-sign Harden. also set to become free agents this summer.Īlthough the Sixers have full Bird or Early Bird rights on all four of Milton, Niang, McDaniels and Reed, they'll be limited in their ability to add external help this offseason. Another early exit might have him questioning whether he'll ever have a realistic title shot with the Sixers, as they have a number of rotation players (Shake Milton, Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels and Paul Reed). Going on a deep playoff run and/or winning a championship could potentially entice Harden to stay. While the Sixers appear confident in their ability to re-sign him, the next few months could prove decisive either way. Harden is averaging 21.6 points and a league-high 10.7 assists per game with the Sixers this season while shooting 45.0 percent overall and a career-best 39.3 percent from three-point range. Although Harden doesn't align age-wise with Houston's young core, he could make an immediate impact as a primary playmaker and secondary scorer. Wojnarowski reported in December that the Rockets had "an appetite to make significant improvement in the standings" next season. You give yourself a better chance to win." "There’s no improvement," veteran guard Eric Gordon told reporters in late December, prior to his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. ![]() Patience tends to wear thin without demonstrable progress, and if anything, the young Rockets appear to be backsliding this season. However, the Rockets are now in the third year of their rebuild, with no end in sight. The Rockets would arguably be better off signing players in their mid-to-late 20s who could grow alongside their young core, since Harden is likely to be on the decline by the time they're ready to compete for a title again. Age-wise, Harden is not on the same developmental curve as Green, Smith and whomever the Rockets select with their lottery pick this year.
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