Sixers’ James Harden opts out of deal, forgoes $47.3 million payday for free agency

James Harden was a man of his word.

Since joining the 76ers in February, Harden said he would do whatever was needed to help the team win a championship.

And on Wednesday, the deadline to opt in to his contract, the perennial All-NBA selection opted out of picking up his $47.36 million player option for the upcoming season.

Harden can take less money to clear enough salary-cap space for the Sixers to sign his former Houston Rockets teammate and friend P.J. Tucker.

Multiple sources have said the Sixers will sign Tucker to a three-year, $30 million contract in free agency.

» READ MORE: P.J. Tucker is expected to join the Sixers. Here’s how they can absorb his salary

If Harden picked up his option, he would have been eligible to sign a four-year, $233 million contract extension that would pay him $61.7 million in the 2026-27 season. However, sources initially expected him to opt in and sign a two-year extension for less than the maximum allowable salary.

The Sixers could have made a roster move that would have allowed Harden to opt in and have money available to pursue Tucker.

But as Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline to opt in approached, the sense was that Harden would opt out and take less money so the team could get its targeted free agent.

He intends to sign a multiyear deal with the Sixers for less money on his annual salary. ESPN is reporting that he’ll reduce his salary to the mid-$30 million level. Harden made $44.3 million this season.

The future Hall of Fame guard indicated in May that this could happen. Harden said he was willing to do “whatever it takes to help this team continue to grow and put us up there with the best of them.”

And Tucker’s toughness and versatility are something the Sixers need.

As a member of the Miami Heat, Tucker played a major role in his team’s eliminating the Sixers in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals in May. Following the Game 6 loss, Joel Embiid talked about his desire to play with someone like Tucker.

Free agency will start at 6 p.m. Thursday. Harden’s decision to opt out of his contract gives the Sixers around $104.4 million in salary tied up with 12 players. That will allow the team to give Tucker the $10.3 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

The Sixers will have the ability to add a player this summer via a sign-and-trade and by using their $4.1 million biannual exception.

If Harden picked up his option, the Sixers would have had to trade players for little in return in order to acquire Tucker. The Sixers would have had $151.7 million in salary tied up with 13 players.

In that scenario, if the Sixers added a player via sign-and-trade this summer or used their biannual exception or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, they couldn’t go over the $156.9 million luxury-tax for next season.

But things are now in place for a Houston Rockets reunion in Philly with Tucker, Harden, and Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.

Harden, 32, spent a little over eight seasons with the Rockets before forcing a trade to the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 13, 2021. Tucker, 37, spent 3½ seasons in Houston before being traded to Milwaukee at the 2021 trade deadline.

Some are questioning why the Sixers are invested in paying a player who would be 40 in the final year of his deal.

Despite his age, Tucker has a physical presence on defense and can guard multiple positions while battling for rebounds. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder can also extend his game beyond the three-point line while creating a matchup problem for opposing post players as a small-ball post player.

» READ MORE: If the Sixers do not land P.J. Tucker or Eric Gordon, whom should they sign? Assessing their free agency options.

Sources also have said that Morey intends to take care of him financially. Tucker was in line to get a contract extension during his final season with the Rockets, but Morey left the organization before the season.

There were reports that the Rockets thought they were close to signing him a two-year extension for $17 million with $10 million guaranteed. The team balked on the extension after Tucker’s representation countered with a fully guaranteed two-year deal worth $24 million.