17 May 2023 , 19:45
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James Harden's future with the Philadelphia 76ers is in doubt as the aftermath to their resounding playoff exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics continues.
The Sixers fired head coach Doc Rivers in the wake of Sunday's brutal 112-88 defeat at the TD Garden in game seven of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, paying the price as a 3-2 series lead slipped through their fingers.
Harden delivered two 40-point games earlier in the series, but his performance in Game Seven has received widespread criticism. He provided just nine points and gave away five turnovers as Jayson Tatum and the Celtics ran riot to book a clash with the Miami Heat in the Conference finals.
And the 33-year-old could have played his last game for Philly, with Bleacher Report indicating the former Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets guard will decline his $35.6million (£28m) option.
Therefore, he is set to hit the open market as a free agent this summer, enabling him to pursue a move elsewhere, with Harden – who averaged a league-high 10.7 assists per game as well as 21 points – reportedly looking for a four-year deal, with landing spots limited.
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Harden is said to only be interested in joining teams with competitive rosters and he is demanding "basketball freedom for the star to be himself", per the report.
The Rockets – where Harden won the MVP and NBA scoring title in 2018 – are among the teams reported to be interested, but they finished with a league-worst record of 22-60 and with Harden entering the back end of his career, it is hard to see him joining a franchise building from the bottom.
Another big-name player whose future has faced uncertainty is Portland Trail Blazers talisman Damian Lillard, but the franchise and their star player are on the same page about how to proceed.
Damian Lillard is reportedly eager to be part of a veteran-led rebuild in Portland.Portland were one of the winners of Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago, jumping from fifth place to third in the draft order, but they are looking to trade the pick away.
The pick is sure to be coveted across the league with Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller among the top prospects who could be taken after consensus number-one selection Victor Wembanyama comes off the board at Barclays Center in June.
"There's going to be some really good players at three that could be great for us or somebody else, depending on how we approach this draft," general manager Joe Cronin said, declaring the team's options are open.
Instead of taking a younger player, the Trail Blazers intend to add veteran players around the franchise's leading scorer Lillard to spark a turnaround after two disappointing seasons in succession, finishing 13th in the West in both.