The Philadelphia 76ers faced a very tough situation with James Harden this offseason. They had to sign him to a new contract, which was expected to be near the maximum amount, while still making additions to the team. Harden ended up agreeing to a deal well below the max.
Now a lot of people are sking: how did the Sixers end up getting away with this?
James Harden's pay cut allowed the Sixers to sign his former teammates, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, which seems like a pretty good incentive. There are other theories out there, though. According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, some people around the league speculate that Harden agreed to take less money this summer in return for a huge contract next offseason.
“As covered previously in this cyberspace, there is a suspicion in some corners of the league that Harden had to have consented to this arrangement because he also secured a wink-wink guarantee about the future,” writes Stein. “Such speculation is inevitable given how close Morey and Harden clearly are, but I've also heard plenty around the league question whether the Sixers, beyond the fact that these types of arrangements are against league rules, could actually bring themselves to give Harden any assurances.”
James Harden did not look anything like a star during the beginning of his stint with Philadelphia. His scoring abilities dipped drastically, especially in the second round of the playoffs, where Philly lost in six games to the Miami Heat. Because of this, the Sixers' willingness to commit a long-term contract to him is being called into question.
The connection between James Harden and Daryl Morey will always be brought into consideration when discussing his contract. Signing a contract with an under-the-table deal guaranteeing a future contract is illegal by NBA rules, though. Whether they are plotting something using Harden's pay cut remains up for debate and speculation.
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