Add veteran NBA columnist and podcast host Bill Simmons to a lengthy list of league insiders who believe the Houston Rockets are a viable destination for 76ers star James Harden in 2023 free agency.
“In the whisper circles, everybody seems to think he’s going back to Houston,” Simmons says on his latest podcast.
“Now, it seems like a foregone conclusion,” Simmons continues in his remarks. “If you’re talking to anyone around the league, they’ll be like, ‘Yeah, Harden’s going back to Houston.’”
Simmons goes on to compare it to the dynamics surrounding LeBron James and the Lakers in the months leading up to 2018 free agency. In a move that was widely rumored for months, James reached an agreement with Los Angeles within the first 24 hours of free agency.
In recent months, prominent reporters who have confirmed the apparent mutual interest between Harden and the Rockets in 2023 free agency include ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, along with The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Kelly Iko.
Houston has enough salary cap room to offer Harden a maximum contract, which is roughly on par with what Philadelphia can bid.
Bill Simmons on James Harden returning to Houston:
“In the whisper circles, everybody seems to think he’s going back to Houston.”
“Now it seems like a foregone conclusion, if you talking to anyone around the league, they’ll be like, yeah, Harden’s going back to Houston.” pic.twitter.com/OsYTRjb0re
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) March 6, 2023
