The Philadelphia 76ers have more serious matters to attend to at the moment: They are locked in a 2-2 series with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Whenever their season ends, they will have to focus on James Harden and free agency.
Before Harden delivered 42 points on 16-for-23 shooting in a pivotal Game 4 overtime win on Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Houston Rockets are still in on The Beard. With the free agency period looming, the Rockets are interested in a reunion with their former leader:
The Houston Rockets loom as a real suitor in free agency this summer. James Harden did a 1 + 1 deal. He can opt out of that and then I think for this Philly organization, they’ve got to look at James Harden at 33 years old. Listen, he had an All-Star caliber season for them and where does he fit in, in terms of years on a contract, money on a contract, and is this just perhaps a leverage play for James Harden? There are a lot of things that are attractive to Houston for him. It is essentially home, family, there’s familiarity with that organization, and that community, they’ve got $60 million in cap space. They want to be improved next season.
Woj before the game tonight:
"The Houston #Rockets loom as a real suitor in Free Agency. Harden did a 1+1 deal and will opt out of that.
There are a lot of things that are attractive with Houston for him. It is home, family there, familiarity with the organisation & community" pic.twitter.com/BUS7NRja9B
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) May 7, 2023
Harden and the Sixers are focused on trying to get past the Celtics and move on with their playoff run, but these Rockets-Harden rumors continue to be a focal point. It will be interesting to see what happens with The Beard when free agency rolls around in July.
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