The Philadelphia 76ers swung a huge deal at the 2022 deadline when they brought in James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. They sent Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and picks to the Nets for Harden and have him team up with Joel Embiid.
Harden and Embiid formed one impressive tandem as the two of them were unstoppable in the pick-and-roll. Harden led the league in assists at 10.7 while Embiid led the league in scoring at 33.1 and earned MVP honors.
However, throughout the entire season, rumblings of Harden going back to the Houston Rockets continued to pop up. The Beard had his most success in Houston and he has a love for the city.
Per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, feelings of reunion are mutual between Harden and the Rockets:
Sources have said his interest in returning to Houston is mutual and not a ploy to get a lucrative deal out of the Sixers. His mother still lives in the city. He has several business ventures there. And, as one source said, “he’s treated like a god in Houston.”
Losing Harden would be a tough blow for the Sixers if it were to happen. Everything they do revolves around the partnership between him and Embiid. If he were to go, president Daryl Morey and co. will have to figure out a quick backup plan to stay in contention while Embiid is in his prime.
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