The rumors surrounding Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden and the Houston Rockets continue to grow louder. Harden had signed a 1+1 deal with the Sixers in the 2022 offseason which means he can opt out and become a free agent in 2023.
When it comes to free agency, the reports of Harden’s thought process is that he will seriously consider a return to the Houston Rockets. A place where he’s had the most success in his career and he won an MVP award in 2018, it makes sense to most that he could return to Houston.
Even some Sixers players are reportedly thinking it could seriously happen. Per Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic:
You get the sense those are all reflections for another time, and that Harden is locked in on this push to win it all. In that regard, things are going well in Philly. But what scenarios might make it the most likely he’ll leave? It seems to be anyone’s guess. Maybe winning it all makes it easier for him to head for Houston, with that championship burden lifted. Or maybe the Sixers get to the NBA Finals, showing just enough promise to make him want to stay and finish the job. And 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.
The summer will certainly be an interesting one for both Harden and the Sixers. Of course, Philadelphia offers him the best chance at the only thing missing from his Hall of Fame résumé: a championship. That could be the determining factor for Harden in the offseason.
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