Apr 24, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) against the Utah Jazz in game five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Playoffs-Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets
(New York, NY) — There’s no place like home.
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, league executives believe that James Harden will sign with the Rockets this summer.
Pompey’s report comes two days after NBA Insider Chris Haynes wrote that Harden is expected to opt out of the final season of his contract in order to test the free agency market.
Haynes reports Harden is seeking a four-year deal. He averaged 21 points and a league-high 10.7 assists per game this past season.
Sixers general manager Daryl Morey pleaded on Wednesday that the team is “interested” in bringing Harden back.
“We have to plan for every scenario,” GM Daryl Morey told reporters Wednesday. “And, for sure, [Harden] has the option to be a free agent, and so we have to plan for all those scenarios. And we feel like that’s a scenario where we can continue to move forward.
Harden took a sizable pay cut last offseason to stay with the Sixers, but he reportedly had issues with coach Doc Rivers — who was fired on Tuesday.
While Houston, even with Ime Udoka taking over as head coach, should take a step in the right direction, a lot of work would have to be done to make the roster competitive.
But on the contrary, the Rockets have plenty of cap space, and the connection between the franchise and Harden remains strong.
A return to Houston would surprise no one.
