With as much as $60 million in approximate room beneath the NBA’s salary cap this offseason, numerous reports in recent months have linked the Houston Rockets with a potential James Harden reunion in 2023 free agency.
In an article published Wednesday, Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic write that “the whispers about a Harden-Rockets reunion are louder than ever.” They add that Houston expects to receive a meeting with Harden, once he declares for free agency.
Citing sources, Amick and Iko note Harden is very fond of Houston’s young talent, notably second-year guard Jalen Green.
Despite all of the reporting, many fans continue to wonder if Harden would really leave one of the NBA’s best teams, the 76ers, for a rebuilding Houston squad that owns the league’s worst record for a third straight year. Some have pointed out that Harden’s camp could simply be using Houston’s potential interest as leverage to get a better contract out of Philadelphia.
With that in mind, there’s a very interesting anecdote from The Athletic’s story pointing to the legitimacy of such reports:
Why, as is the case, do some key Sixers players privately believe that Harden may make this Houston reunion a reality? These are questions for the summertime.
Even as the Sixers try to chase down a championship, it appears key players who share a locker room with Harden and a common goal of that pursuit are not confident in him staying.
The Rockets are widely expected to pursue 76ers guard James Harden this offseason, sources tell @TheAthletic — assuming he declines his player option.
Inside a bond that refuses to dissipate, a tale of two cities and the allure of unfinished business. https://t.co/TzBvcQyqzc
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) March 1, 2023
