Since late in the 2022 calendar year, the Rockets (and their NBA-leading salary cap room for the 2023 offseason) have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for likely free agent James Harden. The veteran guard, of course, was a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate over eight-plus previous seasons in Houston.
Now, even as Harden’s current team in Philadelphia makes a push in the 2023 playoffs, rumors of his offseason interest in a Rockets reunion refuse to go away. Here’s a portion of what ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said about the 76ers star in his latest podcast:
James Harden’s future is very unclear in Philadelphia. Houston is very much in play for him. And I think a lot may depend on (whether) they make a run and win and it’s easy to pay him long-term big money, or he just wants to be in Houston. Win or lose he goes, or if it’s dependent on the team’s success.
Today, Harden and the Sixers lead their series versus Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference’s first round by a 2-0 margin. However, the third-seeded 76ers appear likely to face a much more daunting opponent in the second round No. 2 Boston. The defending East champions would have home-court advantage.
Should the Celtics take care of business, that could place even more of a spotlight on Harden’s future this offseason.
In 58 regular-season games, Harden averaged 21 points (44.1% FG, 38.5% on 3-pointers), 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 36.8 minutes. He turns 34 years old in August and could become a valued veteran leader and playmaker to assist in developing Houston’s young prospects Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun.
