CHICAGO — NBA executives believe James Harden will return to the Houston Rockets this summer.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta “loves” the 76ers’ point guard. According to sources, the franchise is anticipating a reunion with him. Before the Rockets hired Ime Udoka on April 25, the head coach candidates were asked for their opinion on Harden’s coaching during the interview process, according to sources.
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Houston is likely to have a salary cap of around $60 million this offseason. That’s great for Harden, who intends to retire from his $35.6 million contract with the Sixers next season and become a free agent.
Sources said his interest in returning to Houston was mutual and not a ploy to snag a lucrative deal with the Sixers. His mother still lives in town. He has several business ventures there. And as a source said, “He’s being treated like a god in Houston.”
But the question is: What kind of contract are the Rockets, Sixers, or any other franchise willing to offer?
Harden could earn a maximum salary of $210 million over four years with the Sixers, who hold his Bird rights. With another team, he could earn as much as $201.7 million. But with Harden being 33 and prone to struggling in the postseason, it’s unlikely any team would want to max him out for four years.
A fan holds a sign in support of Houston Rockets guard James Harden before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals game against the Golden State Warriors May 14, 2018. … Read moreEric Gay / AP
But if the Sixers don’t re-sign Harden, they’ll be in a tough spot.
He led the league that season with 10.7 assists per game and was easily the Sixers’ best ball handler and presenter. Not assuming salary caps are available, they would not be able to adequately replace him in free agency.
So the Sixers can’t afford to let Harden go for free, especially considering what they gave up to acquire him in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10, 2022. Philly gave up his unprotected first-round pick, which was deferred to the June draft, in addition to giving up Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.
But Houston will always be a special place for Harden. It’s also a place he revisited several times this season when time permitted.
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Harden rose from sixth man of the year to ten-time All-Star after the Oklahoma City Thunder traded him to the Rockets on October 27, 2012.
For Harden, playing at the Toyota Center in Houston is unlike any other arena.
He’s one of the Rockets’ greatest players of all time. During his nine seasons as Rocket, he won the 2018 MVP award and numerous other honors. Fans are no longer upset that he forced a trade to Brooklyn on Jan. 13, 2021. He’s still appreciated around town.
“The love and the feelings are mutual,” he said before facing the Rockets in Houston on December 5. “That will never change. Like I said, I still own my house here. A large family still lives here. This feeling will not change. What I meant by the game is that obviously there is no greater win or loss [in Houston compared to other places]but this family environment around me is a bit different.”
Harden averaged 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds that season and also became the first sixer to win the NBA assists title since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68.
Sixers guard James Harden passes the basketball in front of Boston’s Jayson Tatum during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. . … Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
He was acclaimed for winning two series games against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
He put on an epic performance in Game 1 when Joel Embiid was out with a torn ligament in his right knee. Harden had a game-high 45 points, setting a career playoff high. He also had a season high with seven three-pointers in the 119-115 win. He scored fifteen of his points in the fourth quarter, including the starting shot for the basket 8.4 seconds from time.
In Game 4, Harden had a game-best 42 points, nine assists and four steals in the 116-115 win. His wide-open, 24-foot three in front of the Sixers bench with 19 seconds left was the winner and capped his best home game as a Sixer.
However, he was criticized for his problems in games 6 and 7.
Harden had 13 points in 4-for-16 shooting in the 95-86 loss in Game 6. He followed with nine points on 3-for-11 shooting and five turnovers in the 112-88 loss in Game 7. And Harden could have 5, 6 and 7 on a 0-on-6 combo shooting in the fourth quarter of games not score a goal.
But that hasn’t deterred the Sixers, who are hopeful but unaware of his shared interest in the Rockets.
“Scenario A would be bringing James back,” said Sixers president Daryl Morey. “Scenario B: If he doesn’t come back, we have to get creative.”