May 11, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) shoots against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game six of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Every NBA free agent signing is a gamble, but especially established players who command high salaries but could be fading out of their prime. Here are the three biggest high-risk, high-reward free agents on the market.
The NBA playoffs are winding down, and free agency is rapidly approaching. This summer, there will be a number of intriguing free agents on the market. These three players carry the largest boom or bust potential. They can help a team contend for a title, but due to various factors (injuries, age, etc.), they also carry significant risk.
Biggest high-risk, high-reward NBA free agents: 3. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
First off, I need to establish something. James Harden remains an elite NBA player. With the Philadelphia 76ers, he became a pass-first point guard. In 2022-23, he led the league in assists per game (10.7), while shooting an efficient 38.5 percent from 3. Despite his selfless approach, he still flashed the ability to step in as a lead scorer, if required; he averaged 21.0 points per game.
If his game stays at his level, he is absolutely worth a max contract. However, that is far from a guarantee. He will be 34 years old next season, and he has a mixed history regarding his conditioning.
As he ages, Harden’s playmaking and shooting ability should not be altered, but will he maintain the explosiveness (or motivation) to be an efficient 20+ point per game scorer over a four-year deal? That is definitely a gamble, but given his upside, it is well worth taking.