The Philadelphia 76ers have now hired Nick Nurse as their newest head coach. With his level of expertise, the Sixers could become a solid contender. Nurse knows exactly what it takes to be a championship contender. He’s also had a lot of experience handling ball-dominant players as well. This new direction could be a game-changer for the Sixers in terms of re-signing James Harden.
The Sixers fired Doc Rivers from the head coaching position as he couldn’t get the team to win a title. Rivers’ stint was filled with playoffs upsets and back-to-back round-two exits. The best thing that took place during his brief time with the Sixers was Joel Embiid becoming the league MVP. At times, Rivers would also be in denial of the issues that the Sixers were hurdled with.
Nick Nurse is a defensive expert and knows exactly how to break down the opposition’s routines. He helped the Toronto Raptors become the first team to record more steals than allowing them since the 1973-74 season as well. Nurse helped them win a title in 2019 with Kawhi Leonard on the roster. He was also named the Coach of the Year in 2020 for his incredible work.
James Harden may decline his player option despite Nick Nurse’s arrival
Over the last few weeks, James Harden has been linked to various trade scenarios involving the Houston Rockets. James had an incredible stint with the Rockets but the team struggled to compete in the finals. This led James to force a trade out of Houston in 2021, ultimately ending up in Brooklyn with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. However, it was the same issue that drove him out of Brooklyn as well.
The likelihood that James Harden will re-sign with the Sixers has gained momentum over the last few weeks, per @TheSteinLine.
Harden is reportedly “intrigued” by the vision of new Sixers head coach Nick Nurse. pic.twitter.com/n8l9Hf2eZ4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 25, 2023
Right now, James has been discussing a potential reunion with his former franchise. But with recent updates, Nick Nurse’s arrival in Philadelphia may change the direction of his ultimate decision. NBA Insider Marc Stein revealed that the idea of Harden returning the Philadelphia has gained a lot of traction over the last week or so. He added that Harden was, “intrigued by Nurse’s vision,” at their introductory meeting.
The 76ers are trying their best to convince Harden to stay and compete alongside Embiid. However, it is still expected that Harden will decline his $35.6 million player option that will be valid for next season alone. The Sixers also attempted to acquire Deandre Ayton from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Tobias Harris. However, the Suns have chosen to keep Ayton and Harris has been a big part of their success. So keeping him will be a better decision in the long run.
