In a new podcast episode of “The Lowe Post,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Tim MacMahon break down everything related to the Houston Rockets and a potential James Harden pursuit in 2023 free agency.
The episode was taped Tuesday afternoon, two days after a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski rocked the NBA by suggesting Harden could be headed back to Houston next summer.
While both Lowe and MacMahon said they personally wouldn’t pursue Harden, if they were the Rockets, they also acknowledge the team may decide differently and explored the potential reasons.
The ESPN duo also dropped a few interesting tidbits related to other options for the Rockets in the 2023 offseason, including Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving and Indiana big man Myles Turner. See below for select excerpts, and listen to the complete discussion below (the Houston portion of the podcast starts at the 21:15 mark).
Will Houston say 'Thanks, but no thanks’?
Lowe: My friend and colleague Bill Simmons had a very pithy and Simmons-like tweet saying Houston should release a statement right now saying “thanks, but no thanks.”
MacMahon: Don’t hold your breath for that.
Would Houston do it?
MacMahon: The people I talk to in Houston acknowledge “Well, hey, we’d have to have discussions about fit and if it’s the best path, blah blah blah.”
But the simple fact of the matter is, Tilman Fertitta’s patience is limited. This is the third year of what he anticipated and expected to be a three-year rebuild. And, by the way, the benefits of being bad are gone after this year, unless they’re really bad and lucky in the lottery … because next year’s pick (2024) is due to OKC, top-four-protected, from the Chris Paul-Russell Westbrook trade.
Would Harden do it?
MacMahon: It was interesting to me. When Harden was asked about this after their Christmas Day win, he basically said, Hey, things are going well in Philly, I don’t know where that came from.
He didn’t say, “It ain’t happening.” He didn’t shoot it down. (It was) “I don’t know where that came from, and I didn’t want this out there yet.”
Other options with massive salary cap space?
Lowe: If you look at this summer’s free agents, it’s like, “Kyrie [Irving]?”
MacMahon: Hey, listen. I’m just saying, don’t rule that one out, either.
Lowe: I wouldn’t rule anything out with Kyrie or the Houston Rockets. That’s a perfect storm of “don’t rule it out.”
(Editor’s note: Lowe mentions Portland’s Jerami Grant and Josh Hart, Indiana’s Myles Turner, Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez as other potential targets for the Rockets, though he wasn’t sure if any will be realistically attainable.)
Would Harden, who turns 34 next summer, require a long contractual commitment?
Lowe: If Harden is willing to come on a short-term deal, and there are a lot of whispers around the league that he wants to keep cycling through 1+1 type deals (one year plus player option) … you could talk yourself into it. If you’re the Rockets, “No harm, no foul, it’s not like we’re tying ourselves to him forever.”
Is a Harden reunion impossible?
MacMahon: I would call it emotional and impatient, but impossible I would not call it.
Lowe: Oh, they’ll consider it. 100 percent.
MacMahon: 100 percent, they will consider it.
Should the 2023 NBA draft influence Houston’s Harden pursuit?
MacMahon: One thing I think could factor into the decision making is where the Rockets land in the (2023 NBA draft) lottery. If they land at No. 2, they’re drafting Scoot Henderson.
At that point, what do they do with Scoot Henderson if they’re paying James Harden a lot of money to come run the show again? I’m not telling you I know for a fact that would change the decision making, but it makes sense that it would factor in.
Now if they land No. 1, and they get Victor (Wembanyama), then they’re bringing James in and thinking they could win the NBA championship that year. Maybe they could be, actually, really relevant.
What about the current point guard, Kevin Porter Jr.?
MacMahon: I do believe the Rockets need a true point guard. Harden is much more of your prototypical pass-first point guard, now, than he is the (previous) Houston James Harden that would score 36 (points) per night. He’s always been a brilliant passer. …
I’ve had this conversation with folks with the Rockets. They’re not 100% convinced Kevin Porter Jr. is a starting point guard in the NBA.
Lowe: Of course they’re not, their (contract) extension for him has all these ridiculous half-guarantees and incentives. They telegraphed their lack of faith in him.
Would Rockets keep Eric Gordon around to help pursue Harden?
MacMahon: We’ve been keeping an eye on Eric Gordon, for what feels like forever, in the trade market.
If he’s not traded, I think he’s on the team next year, and I think that’s an indication they are going all-in on Harden. Eric Gordon is a guy Harden would want to play with.
