On a recent episode of The Athletic NBA Show, Sam Amick shared some intel on James Harden's contract situation with the Philadelphia 76ers. Amick says Philadelphia may know Harden won't demand a max deal in free agency.

"When the Sixers got him, their intel was that he would potentially be willing to take less. And obviously, you know, nobody knows him better than Daryl (Morey)," said Amick.

Harden is eligible to sign a five-year, $270 million deal this summer, if he declines his $47.4 million player option for next season. That deal would see Harden owed over $61 million in 2026-27, when he would be 37 years old.

If Harden is willing to take less this his full max, the 76ers could find themselves in a better salary cap position in both the immediate and later years of his deal. Philadelphia has already committed roughly $200 million to Joel Embiid through the same time period as Harden's next contract could run.