The Houston Rockets remain optimistic regarding the potential of bringing superstar guard James Harden back to the organization in 2023 free agency, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Harden is finishing a second regular season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Rockets will have up to $60 million in salary cap room this offseason, and Harden could be a focal point of their plans to return to NBA relevancy. MacMahon spoke about the situation on the latest episode of ESPN’s Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast.
Among MacMahon’s comments:
Not just that Houston wants to, but Houston believes it is a legitimate possibility and that’s not coming out of thin air. James Harden still spends a lot of time in Houston. Spends his summers in Houston. Works out at the Rockets’ facility on a regular basis. It’s a very real possibility. And Harden, by the way, never shot it down. He just said ‘I don’t know where that came from.’
ESPN's @espn_macmahon says "Houston believes (James Harden returning) is a legitimate possibility and that's not coming out of thin air." He adds that Harden still "works out at the Rockets facility on a regular basis." (via Hoops Collective podcast) pic.twitter.com/afpBspynAS
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 24, 2023
Windhorst referred to Harden’s response as a non-denial. However, he also noted the Harden-Houston storyline could be a “leverage point” in negotiations between Harden and the Sixers, with the 33-year-old perhaps using Houston’s interest to leverage his way into a longer contract than would otherwise be offered.
Time will tell. The podcast can be listened to below.
