On January 18, Beijing time, according to NBA celebrity Mark Stein, Harden was open to leaving the Nets this summer. Stein wrote: "It must be noted that the willingness of Harden to re-select the team to play for this summer has created enough voice in the league. So far this season, Ha has averaged 22.7 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.
Previously, Harden and the Nets did not reach an agreement to renew their contracts early, which also made it possible for him to jump out of the contract this offseason and become a fully free agent. Harden's salary this season is $43.84 million, while next season is a player option worth $46.87 million. Harden failed to renew his contract early, and the US media thought that the Nets would feel some crisis at the time.
Refusing to renew his contract with the Nets in advance, on the one hand, can give Harden a chance to sign a bigger contract, on the other hand, it is to leave a backhand for his future. If the Nets' condition doesn't satisfy Harden, he could choose not to execute the final year option next summer and become a free agent. Although he is not sure that he will choose this way, it is enough to make the Nets unable to completely feel at ease this year.
The US media switchpoints also forwarded Stein's report, and pointed out that the current situation of the Nets is indeed not ideal, Irving has always refused to be vaccinated, can only play in away games, Durant is plagued by injuries and can not play in the next 4-6 weeks. Many people have speculated that Harden may be willing to play for the 76ers.
Stein also reported that rumors that Harden is willing to re-select the team also gave the Philadelphia 76ers a reason to wait for him. Before Harden was traded to the Nets, there were US media reports that the team he was willing to go to was in addition to the Nets, there were 76ers. For the 76ers, creating a superstar combination of Harden and Embiid can bring this team one step closer to the championship.