James Harden Rumors: 76ers Well-known particular person Expected to Stamp Rockets Contract in NBA Free Company

The long-rumored reunion between James Harden and the Houston Rockets is expected to became a actuality in free agency this summer.

Per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, there’s a perception among NBA executives that Harden will opt out of his address the Philadelphia 76ers to signal with the Houston Rockets.

Pompey also neatly-known the curiosity between Harden and the Rockets is mutual “and no longer a ploy to fetch a profitable deal out of the Sixers.”

The flirtation between Harden and his mild club turned public on Christmas Day when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the ten-time All-Well-known particular person became once “seriously taking into account” a return to Houston.

Rumblings a pair of reunion had been going on within the months since that initial characterize. They picked up steam fair no longer too long ago within the wake of Philadelphia’s 112-88 loss to the Boston Celtics in Sport 7 of the Eastern Convention semifinals on Sunday.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon talked about on a fresh episode of The Lowe Post podcast (starts at 17:02 mark) the Rockets “reflect he’s coming” when discussing Harden.

Harden signed a two-365 days, $68.6 million contract with the 76ers final offseason that functions a $35.6 million player option for 2023-24. He agreed to rob a $15 million pay nick final season in present to aid Philadelphia’s entrance region of business add abilities with the hope of winning a championship.

Now that it appears likely Harden will turn down his 2023-24 option, the next step will likely be knowing what roughly deal he’ll signal this summer.

Pompey neatly-known Harden can signal for a maximum of 4 years and $210 million if he re-signs with Philadelphia or $201.7 million if he signs with one other club.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks neatly-known the Rockets will likely have basically the most cap command within the NBA this offseason with around $60 million to employ.

Or no longer it is unclear if the Rockets would must give a max deal to the 33-365 days-damaged-down Harden, nonetheless the option is at least readily out there to them without having to sacrifice one thing else major on their roster.

Even this model of Harden would be a gigantic upgrade within the backcourt for a Rockets team that has been attempting to search out someone who can play with Kevin Porter Jr. Jalen Inexperienced’s taking pictures efficiency took a step motivate this season, even supposing he did lead the team in scoring with 22.1 sides per game.

New head coach Ime Udoka has hundreds of work before him with a roster that became once the second-youngest within the NBA for the 2022-23 season.

Harden’s lack of consistency can draw him tense at times, nonetheless he would give the Rockets a centerpiece on offense that opposing defenses must appreciate.