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Montrezl Harrell Montrezl Harrell declines PO, to become UFA
Wed, Jun 21, 2023, 9:14 AM
Chris Haynes on Twitter
Montrezl Harrell has declined his $2.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to TNT's Chris Haynes.
Analysis: Harrell appeared in 57 games for the 76ers last season and averaged just 11.9 minutes per game, his fewest minutes since his rookie campaign. The 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year will look for a new home next season and potentially an expanded role. |
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Shake Milton Report: Shake Milton looking for more playing time
Tue, Jun 20, 2023, 8:42 PM
Philly Voice
According to Kyle Neubeck on Philly Voice, Shake Milton is considered to be the 76ers' free agent least likely to re-sign with the team this summer.
Analysis: While the pending free agency of James Harden has received the most attention in Philadelphia, he isn't the only player due to hit the open market on June 30. Milton will also be a free agent, and there's a clear desire to have an opportunity to play more. Should the 76ers re-sign Harden, that would make it even more likely that Milton moves on. Fantasy-wise, a move into a better situation would be a positive. Milton didn't offer fantasy value this season outside of the period when Philadelphia was without Harden and Tyrese Maxey due to injury. |
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James Harden HOU return may not mean max deal for James Harden
Tue, Jun 13, 2023, 4:03 PM
HoopsHype
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said on a recent podcast that there have been "rumblings" that Houston does not want to give James Harden a max contract to ensure his return.
Analysis: Harden will be one of the big names on the free agency market this summer, as it was reported in May that he will opt out of the final season of his current deal with the 76ers. While it has been rumored that a return to Houston could be in the cards, we hadn't heard much about what a potential contract would look like. During a podcast with Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Scotto said that he was hearing "rumblings" that Houston does not want to give Harden a max contract. Iko concurred, citing Houston's need for multiple pieces in order to advance their rebuild. "Do I think the Rockets are willing to give him the max? No. They want to add at least three or four veterans, and you canât do that conceivably if youâre giving Harden upwards of $45-50 million," Iko said. Philadelphia is holding out hope that it can re-sign Harden, and that could prove to be his best shot at a major payday while also contending for a title. |
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Danuel House Woj: Danuel House picks up 2023-24 player option
Fri, Jun 2, 2023, 10:15 AM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
Danuel House has picked up his $4.3M player option for the 2023-24 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Analysis: House played in a reserve role off the bench for the Sixers this season. In 56 games he averaged 4.8 points per game and shot just over 47% from the field. With a new coaching staff in place and a roster that might look very different come training camp, House has the potential to see himself in a bigger role next season, however time will tell. |
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James Harden Nurse hopeful for James Harden return next season
Thu, Jun 1, 2023, 5:07 PM
ESPN.com
During his introductory press conference, 76ers coach Nick Nurse said that he hopes that James Harden will remain with the team.
Analysis: Harden took less money last summer when he agreed to a new contract with the 76ers, a decision that opened the door for the team to sign P.J. Tucker and Danuel House. However, that contract also came with a player option for the 2023-24 season, and the expectation is that he will opt out and become a free agent this summer. And with there being reports that Harden could be headed back to Houston, that was a question asked of Nurse during his introductory presser. His "sales pitch" to Harden will be simple for the 76ers' new head coach. "Winning has to be the sell, right?" Nurse said. "Can we be good enough to win it all? That's got to be a goal of his. And if it is, then he should stay here and play for us, because I think there's a possibility of that." Harden's decision will impact the entire roster as far as fantasy basketball is concerned, most especially Tyrese Maxey and De'Anthony Melton. A Harden return to Philadelphia could limit the ceilings of those two, making them solid mid-round picks in standard leagues. |
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James Harden Report: Execs expect James Harden to rejoin HOU
Fri, May 19, 2023, 11:42 AM
Philadelphia Inquirer
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, league executives believe that James Harden will sign with the Rockets this summer.
Analysis: Pompey's report comes two days after Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes wrote that Harden is expected to opt out of the final season of his contract in order to hit free agency. Interestingly, Haynes reported that Harden is looking for a competitive roster and "basketball freedom" in his next stop. While Houston, even with Ime Udoka taking over as head coach, can promise the latter, a lot of work would have to be done to make the roster competitive. The Rockets have plenty of cap space, which would help matters, and the connection between the franchise and Harden remains strong. A return to Houston would surprise no one, but seeing how that would impact Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green would be interesting. |
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James Harden Haynes: James Harden intends to decline option
Wed, May 17, 2023, 2:31 PM
Bleacher Report
According to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, James Harden intends to decline his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent.
Analysis: Regardless of what the 76ers decided to do with Doc Rivers, who was fired on Tuesday, many expected that Harden would opt out of the final year of his two-year deal. He left money on the table last summer, with Philadelphia using some of the money saved to sign P.J. Tucker and Danuel House. According to Hayes, Harden is looking for a four-year deal, along with a competitive roster and the "basketball freedom" to play his game. The competitive roster aspect may rule out a return to Houston, with the Rockets in the midst of a rebuild, unless they were to make significant moves to improve the lineup. |
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James Harden Harden seen on milk carton after no-show in Gm 7
Sun, May 14, 2023, 5:29 PM
James Harden turned in nine points (3-of-11 FG), six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, a block, a triple and five turnovers Sunday in a 112-88 loss to the Celtics.
Analysis: No one should be surprised here, as Harden has a history of shrinking in big playoff games. Weâll give him credit where itâs due, as he was responsible for two wins in this series almost single-handedly due to some last-second heroics and monster scoring. Outside of Games 1 and 4, he was mostly average or worse, and thatâs not going to cut it for a Philly team that has to compete with the likes of the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks year in and year out in the playoffs. Harden canât shoulder all of the blame for this 24-point loss, as Joel Embiid went for just 15 points and eight boards in one of the worst playoff performances of his career. |
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Joel Embiid Is this your king? Joel MVPiid disappears in Gm 7
Sun, May 14, 2023, 5:16 PM
Joel Embiid finished Sundayâs blowout loss to Boston with 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds, an assist, two blocks and four turnovers.
Analysis: In one of the biggest games of his career, Embiid completely vanished. He couldnât get anything going Sunday, as the reigning MVP disappeared with a lackluster effort on both ends of the court. Playing for a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers came out of the second half completely flat. Embiid had no answer for the superstar on the other side of the court, as Jayson Tatum scored a record 51 points in the blowout victory. Embiid didnât touch the ball for the final 3:59 of the Game 6 home loss, and there seemed to be no concerted effort to get him going in Game 7 after that fourth-quarter collapse. Phillyâs Conference Finals drought continues for another season, as the team hasnât advanced past the second round since 2001. |
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James Harden James Harden posts 13/7/9/3/1 line in Game 6 loss
Thu, May 11, 2023, 10:00 PM
James Harden struggled from the floor but still contributed 13 points (4-for-16 FGs), seven rebounds, nine assists, three steals, one block and five turnovers against Boston on Thursday.
Analysis: Since scoring 42 points and hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in Game 4, Harden has scored a total of 30 points on 8-for-24 shooting. With a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals while playing at home, Harden really struggled to put the ball in the basket. While this was certainly a disappointment, he'll have a chance to make up for it in Game 7 in Boston, where he has already scored over 40 points twice this series. If he has any of that offensive juice left, it may be his last chance to use it. |
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Tyrese Maxey Tyrese Maxey puts up 26/5/3/3 in loss Thursday
Thu, May 11, 2023, 9:55 PM
Tyrese Maxey shined again on Thursday with 26 points (9-for-20 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, three steals and three 3-pointers against the Celtics.
Analysis: Similarly to Game 5, Maxey stepped up on the offensive end and provided a huge boost offensively. He really struggled to do any scoring in Games 2-4, but he seems to have figured out the best way to contribute over their last two games. Unlike Game 5, it didn't result in a win for the 76ers. After stealing homecourt advantage back, Philly wasn't able to close out the series at home. They've already won twice in Boston, but they'll now have to do it a third time if they want to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since Allen Iverson was leading the squad. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid puts up 26/10/1/1/3 as 76ers drop Gm 6
Thu, May 11, 2023, 9:43 PM
Joel Embiid recorded a double-double on Thursday with 26 points (9-for-19 FGs), 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal and three blocks in a 95-86 loss to Boston in Game 6.
Analysis: After hitting a pull-up jumper with six minutes left to tie the game at 81, Embiid went scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting over the rest of the game. Simply put, the 76ers aren't going to win games if the MVP isn't scoring down the stretch. It was a golden opportunity for them to close out at home and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they weren't able to get it done. They'll head to Boston to try and keep their season alive on Saturday, where Embiid will likely be in for a monster night. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid (knee) will play in Game 6 Thursday
Thu, May 11, 2023, 6:04 PM
Keith Smith on Twitter
Joel Embiid (sprained right knee) will play in Game 6 against the Celtics on Thursday.
Analysis: It wouldâve been incredibly surprising if Embiid didnât suit up with a chance to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line. He hasnât ever made it past the second round in his career, and heâll get the chance to do it at home in this game. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid (knee) questionable for Game 6
Wed, May 10, 2023, 1:59 PM
NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid (sprained right knee) is being listed as questionable for Thursday's Game 6 against the Celtics.
Analysis: To no surprise Embiid is being listed as questionable on the injury report which might continue for as long as the Sixers are in the playoffs. After an impressive outing in Game 5, Embiid will look to carry the momentum back home to Philadelphia as the Sixers look to advance to their first Conference Finals in over 20 years. |
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Tyrese Maxey Tyrese Maxey scores 30 as 76ers take Game 5 Tues.
Tue, May 9, 2023, 9:18 PM
Mike Lynch on Twitter
Tyrese Maxey shot 10-of-21 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Tuesday's 115-103 win over Boston, scoring 30 points with seven rebounds, three assists, and six 3-pointers in 41 minutes.
Analysis: Philadelphia entered Tuesday's Game 5 facing quite the hurdle based on its franchise history. Before this game, the 76ers had never won a Game 5 in a series tied at two games apiece. That changed on Tuesday, with Maxey being a key factor offensively. He was one of two 30-point scorers for the winners (Joel Embiid), and Maxey combined with James Harden to carve up the Celtics' defense in ball-screen situations. According to Second Spectrum (via Kevin O'Connor), Maxey and Harden ran a combined 53 pick-and-rolls, producing 1.15 points per play. Look for the 76ers to take a similar approach as they look to close out the series on Thursday. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid drops 33/7/3 line with four swats Tue.
Tue, May 9, 2023, 9:04 PM
Joel Embiid finished Tuesday's 115-103 win over Boston with 33 points (10-of-23 FGs, 10-of-11 FTs), seven rebounds, three assists, four blocks, and three 3-pointers in 37 minutes.
Analysis: The 76ers are now one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals, as they controlled the action for most of Tuesday's Game 5. Embiid led the way on both ends of the floor, putting up a team-high 33 points while also blocking four shots. And he had plenty of help. Tyrese Maxey put up 30 points, while Tobias Harris (16/11/1 with one 3-pointer) and James Harden (17/8/10/2 with one 3-pointer) recorded efficient double-doubles. Philadelphia consistently created clean looks on offense while limiting Boston to 39.8% shooting on the other end of the floor. They'll look to do the same in Game 6 on Thursday, as a win would close out the series. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid (knee) cleared for Game 5 Tuesday
Tue, May 9, 2023, 6:05 PM
Keith Smith on Twitter
James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, and Joel Embiid will start Tuesday's game against the Celtics.
Analysis: Embiid has been playing through a sprained right knee and will continue to do so in Tuesday's pivotal Game 5. As a result, Philadelphia will stick with its preferred starting five as they look to break the 2-2 series deadlock. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid (knee) questionable for Game 5 Tuesday
Mon, May 8, 2023, 4:31 PM
NBA Injury Report
Joel Embiid (sprained right knee) is questionable for Game 5 against Boston on Tuesday.
Analysis: No surprises here, as Embiid will continue to be listed on the injury report. However, it would be incredibly shocking if he wasn't able to suit up in this pivotal Game 5. With the series tied 2-2, they'll need Embiid to try and steal the win, even if he isn't 100% healthy. |
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Tyrese Maxey Tyrese Maxey puts up 14/8/1/2/1 line vs. Celtics
Sun, May 7, 2023, 5:54 PM
Tyrese Maxey provided a solid boost with 14 points (6-for-17 FGs), eight rebounds, one assist, two steals, one block and two 3-pointers against Boston on Sunday.
Analysis: Maxey was the only player on the 76ers to score in double figures that wasn't named James Harden or Joel Embiid. However, he didn't have a great shooting night, even if Philly was able to tie the series. After scoring 24 in Game 1, Maxey has been relatively quiet in the three games that Embiid has played in. Harden and Embiid combined for 76 points in this game, which was a big reason that they were able to get the win. However, things will be a lot easier for them if Maxey or Tobias Harris was able to give them more of a boost offensively. |
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Joel Embiid Joel Embiid puts up 34/13/4 in Game 4 win Sunday
Sun, May 7, 2023, 5:42 PM
Joel Embiid dominated the Celtics with 34 points (11-for-26 FGs, 12-for-15 FTs), 13 rebounds, four assists and one steal in Game 4 on Sunday.
Analysis: Embiid once again had a big performance at home, and they were finally able to get a win in this series with him in the lineup, since he wasn't able to play in their Game 1 upset victory. They evened up the series with the win, but they'll still have to win a game in Boston to have a chance of advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in Embiid's career. Al Horford does a better job than most of defending Embiid, but it shouldn't impact his box score dominance, as we've seen over their last two games. He'll likely be listed as questionable again, but he should play in a decisive Game 5. |
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