Could James Harden rejoin the Houston Rockets in free agency this summer?
Could it be that the prodigal son is about to return home? While there is nothing set in stone, it seems like the one-time Rockets star could be on his way back.
Following a high-profile move to Philadelphia, the former MVP was expected to make waves in the league, especially considering the fact that he was about to be playing alongside the now reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. Unfortunately, that’s not how things went and here we are entrenched in speculation about his future.
James Harden and the $1 million question
Is James Harden about to go back to the team with whom he became a star, the Houston Rockets? While we can’t confirm that, recent reports do suggest that the Rockets are in fact planning to go after a deal with the former MVP. Of course, in the grand scheme of things that piece of information means little, but when considering Harden’s connection to the city, both tangible and emotional, one must admit that it carries some weight.
According to reports out of Philly, Houston “expects” to be reunited with Harden this summer, moreover there is said to be “mutual” interest in seeing a deal done on both sides. To be clear, Harden is now reportedly expected to decline his $35.6 million player option this summer, which means he will become an unrestricted free agent. Again, there is nothing carved in stone, however, these reports do serve as a solid indication that something is brewing between both parties. This is after all a team with which Harden spent nine seasons.
What’s going on with James Harden?
To be fair, the idea of a reunion between Harden and his former team is something that’s been talked about since he forced a trade back in 2021. Between his publicly declared love for the franchise and its reciprocation of affection for him, many assumed it was just a matter of time. That being said, things are complicated in Philly right now. As you probably know, the Sixers just fired head coach Doc Rivers and as some reports have indicated that it was at the behest of Harden himself. If we assume that’s true, then it simply makes no sense that he’d be on his way out now that the team has given him what he wants. Add to that, the fact that it finally seems like Harden and Embiid are finally beginning to develop some synergy and it starts to look even more improbable. That being said, stranger things have happened in the NBA.
Where do the Houston Rockets stand?
So, here’s the thing: As you probably know this all comes down to cap space, which the Rockets don’t have a ton of. In truth they’ll have about $60 million of it when summer rolls around and where Harden is concerned, we’re looking at a player who could get up to $201.7 million from teams around the league and a maximum of $210 million from the Sixers. That’s to say, that if a deal were to be agreed on, it likely wouldn’t be based on money, but rather on his love affair with the city and the team’s desire to fit him into a project that is currently in rebuild mode.
Where the man himself if concerned, he’s now jumped from the Rockets, to the Nets, to the Sixers and now we’re talking about making a move back to the Sixers once again. Yet, we can’t forget that he still owns a home in Houston as well as a number of businesses. Indeed, earlier in the season he even spoke about how hard it was for him to leave the city when discussing his “frustrating” time in Brooklyn. “I was in a really good place in Houston,” Harden said at the time. “Obviously, we didn’t have a chance to win a championship, but I was comfortable. So, for me to up and leave my family, all the things I created there, to come to Brooklyn for a year and a half to try to just get up and leave, it was for a reason.”
What’s the conclusion?
Ultimately, if there is one thing we can take away, it’s that the very idea we’re even discussing this would seem to suggest that James Harden has prioritized his comfort and lifestyle, ahead of the possibility of winning a championship. With all due respect to the Rockets, they’ve got some tinkering to do before they can reasonably be expected to compete for a title. The Sixers on the other hand literally have MVP talent. Perhaps Harden sees it differently, maybe new Houston head coach Ime Udoka has him intrigued, either way it’s now clear that there is more to this story than we’re able to report at the moment. As always, watch this space.