James Harden is staying with the Sixers for a lot less money.
The 10-time All-Star guard has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with a player option in year two that will pay him $32 million next season, according to multiple reports.
Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the deal.
Harden opted out of a contract that would have paid him more than $47 million in the 2022-23 season. Had Harden picked up that option, he would have been eligible to sign a four-year, $233 million extension that would have paid him $61.7 million in the final year.
By agreeing to a lesser deal, the Sixers were able to bolster their roster by signing two of Harden’s former Houston Rockets teammates, forward P.J. Tucker and guard Danuel House, as free agents. It also kept the Sixers from going over the $157 million luxury tax threshold.
Tucker agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal while House signed for two years and $8.5 million.
The Sixers acquired Harden and Paul Milsap in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets last February for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2027.
Harden appeared in 21 regular-season games for the Sixers and averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds. A hamstring injury slowed him in the playoffs and saw his numbers drop to 18.2 points, 7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds. The Sixers were eliminated in the second round by the Miami Heat in six games.
For his career Harden is averaging 24.9 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He led the league in scoring in 2017-18 (30.4 ppg), 2018-19 (36.1) and 2019-20 (24.3). He was named Sixth-Man of the Year in 2011-12, league MVP in 2017-18 and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.