Sixers

Charles Barkley Thinks it Would be “Stupid” for the Sixers to Extend James Harden

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: May 19th, 2023 · 10:00 AM EDT

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Charles Barkley was on Mike Missanelli’s podcast this week. He’s not a fan of fan of giving James Harden a multi-year deal, saying this:

Charles Barkley says it would be “the end of the Sixers for the next five years” if they extend James Harden.
by u/SomeGuyNamedJohn12 in sixers

Barkley:

“I think the Harden decision is very easy. I think they got to move on from James. That’s my personal opinion. If they do something stupid like extend him, that’ll be the end of the Sixers for the next five years. But that’s the decision they have to make. It’s gonna be painful and difficult but they gotta move on from James Harden.” 

Here’s the thing with the Harden decision –

If you move on from him, is there another available player who makes you better? Keeps you level? Triggering the player option would put the Sixers $35 million against the cap for one more Harden year, but this is not a strong free agent class. You’ve got guys like Khris Middleton and Fred VanVleet on player options, plus Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Russell, Harrison Barnes, Jerami Grant, and a lot of role players. Nobody has any clue what’s going on with Damian Lillard, and trading Tyrese Maxey would be an unpopular move with the fans.

Harden walking may very well be the right thing for the Sixers, but there’s not exactly a linear path to replacing him.

Full episode of Mike’s podcast here.