The James Harden era is over in Philadelphia, plus which MLB is the most disappointing?

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

Good morning to everyone but especially to…

PATRICK MAHOMES AND TRAVIS KELCE

It turns out Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce can win more than just Super Bowls together. The Kansas City Chiefs duo dominated Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in eighth edition of The Match, a 12-hole charity golf exhibition at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas. 

Mahomes and Kelce beat the Splash Brothers in 10 holes, giving the Chiefs quarterback a win in the event just over a year after he and Bills signal caller Josh Allen lost to Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. 

While Curry and Thompson didn’t get the win, it wasn’t all bad for Warriors fans as Draymond Green — who’s hitting unrestricted free agency today — appeared and showed support. Perhaps that’s a sign he’s running it back with Golden State?

And not such a good morning for… 

THE 76ERS

The James Harden era is over in Philly. After a season and a half with the 76ers, the three-time scoring champ has reportedly opted into his contract to allow Philadelphia to explore trade options. 

While Harden has been linked to the Rockets — the team he won the 2017-18 MVP with — for several months now, an H-Town comeback tour is unlikely as they’re reportedly targeting Fred VanVleet. Harden will land somewhere, though, continuing what’s been a strange late-career odyssey for one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. 

It’s unclear where the 76ers go from here. Harden, despite his flaws, helped unlock Joel Embiid’s MVP form with his steady playmaking. With Harden gone — and potentially without a commensurate replacement — the clock has to be ticking for Embiid as well, especially if Philadelphia struggles out the gate next season. 

Kyrie Irving landing spots: Could the star guard reunite with LeBron in L.A.? 🏀 Getty Images

NBA free agency officially opened today, and Kyrie Irving is the biggest name available. The eight-time All-Star hits the open market as an unrestricted free agent after finishing last season with the Mavericks, but a return to Dallas is far from certain. 

Irving has long been considered a Lakers target — they reportedly tried to trade for him in February — because of his connection to LeBron James, as the two led the Cavaliers to their first ever championship in 2016. A lot has changed since then, most notably Irving’s off-court antics making him somewhat of a depreciated asset. Teams always need scoring, though, and Irving is still one of the league’s best bucket-getters. 

CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish laid out three potential landing spots for Irving, and here’s her case for the Lakers: 

If Irving can’t find his way to Los Angeles, he could stay in Texas — but not with the team you think. Wimbish listed the Rockets as one of the Irving landing spots, and while the fit may seem odd given Houston’s roster construction, Houston could pull the trigger anyway considering Harden is seemingly off the table.  

NHL free agency: A look at the biggest names hitting the market Saturday 🏒 Getty Images

With the NHL Draft in the rearview mirror, all eyes are on free agency opening Saturday. This class lacks a bona fide star, but CBS Sports’ Austin Nivison believes players such as Ryan O’Neill and Tyler Bertuzzi can be valuable additions to the right teams. 

O’Neill headlines the list as a former Selke Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion, but at age 32 he likely won’t command the type of contract his resume would suggest. 

As for Bertuzzi, he could be in line for a significant payday after breaking out with the President’s Trophy-winning Bruins down the stretch. However, injuries have been a concern, which could leave teams queasy about including him in their long-term plans. 

Here’s Austin’s full list. 

Who is more disappointing, the Padres or Mets? ⚾ Getty Images

It’s been a season to forget for the Mets and Padres, two teams that once had sky-high expectations. Just which squad has flopped the hardest, though?

CBS Sports’ MLB experts discussed the topic on this week’s Batting Around, and the opinion was split. 

Matt Snyder went with the Padres, noting he was particularly disappointed with the team’s offense, including high-priced veterans Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts. 

Dayn Perry, meanwhile, chose the Mets because of how drastically they’ve regressed this season despite owning MLB’s highest payroll ever. 

Here’s the full Batting Around conversation. 

What we’re watching this weekend 📺

Saturday 

⚾ Yankees at Cardinals, 2:15 p.m. on FS1🏀 Sun at Aces, 3 p.m. on ABC⚾ Diamondbacks at Angels, 10:07 p.m. on MLB Network

Sunday ⚾ Marlins at Braves, 1:35 p.m. on MLB Network🏎 NASCAR Cup Series at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. on NBC🏀 Liberty at Storm, 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network⚾ Giants at Mets, 7:10 p.m. on ESPN