James Harden

James Harden's return to the Philadelphia 76ers next season might not be a foregone conclusion.

The Indiana Pacers ($49.8 million) and San Antonio Spurs ($47.1 million) are the only two other teams projected to have enough cap space for Harden's full max, while the Utah Jazz ($42.6 million) and Los Angeles Lakers ($33.4 million) are the only teams with cap space that could feasibly give Harden a shot at playoff contention right away. "Despite forcing his way out of the Rockets in January 2021, Harden has maintained something of a magnetic pull to Houston, drawn to the community, lifestyle and family there," Wojnarowski wrote Sunday. If they flame out before the conference finals and balk at shelling out nine figures for Harden, though, a Rockets reunion might be in order. In fact, some executives wondered whether the Sixers already had a "handshake agreement in place on a future contract—which would be in violation of collective bargaining rules," [Wojnarowski wrote](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34314466/sources-nba-investigating-philadelphia-76ers-possible-tampering-centered-james-harden-pj-tucker-danuel-house-deals) in late July. [did eventually strip](https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1587172648127266817) the Sixers of their 2023 and 2024 second-round picks for illegal communication with Tucker and House ahead of free agency. All odds via [FanDuel Sportsbook](https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba). [Keith Smith](https://www.spotrac.com/spots/2023-nba-cap-space-projections-december-edition-1693/) of Spotrac. He described Harden's relationships with Embiid and Sixers head coach Doc Rivers as "something closer to a work in progress," which suggests the next six months could prove decisive either way. Harden's contractual sacrifice seemingly suggested that he planned to stay in Philadelphia long term. They also wouldn't have had the bi-annual exception, which teams only get when they're below the apron. Tucker using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and Danuel House Jr. "Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months," Wojnarowski added.

Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 10, 2022 for a package that included Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and two first-round draft picks going to ...

Harden saw the writing on the wall and forced his way out, eventually getting traded to the [Brooklyn Nets](https://www.netsdaily.com) on Jan. He forced his way out of Houston to put himself in a better position to win a title, but both the Nets and Sixers came up short. The Rockets are off to the worst start in the Western Conference at 9-23 overall. The Rockets could add another dynamic talent in the draft this season, potentially even Victor Wembanyama, The Nets won only one playoff series in two playoff runs with Harden. [NBA Finals](https://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals) and eventually started to tear down the core around him. Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. Harden spent the best years of his career with the Houston Rockets, where he powered eight consecutive playoff runs, two trips to the conference finals, and won the 2018 MVP award. [76ers](https://www.libertyballers.com) were among the preseason favorites in the East, but they’re the No. 5 seed in the conference ahead of their Christmas day game against the [New York Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com) after a 19-12 start. A move back to the Rockets likely wouldn’t put him in position to compete for a championship immediately, but it would allow him to potentially get paid a max contract. [Houston Rockets](https://www.thedreamshake.com) if he enters free agency in the summer of 2023?

NEW YORK — Is James Harden seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency? Or is the 76ers point guard letting the team know there ...

He played a little over eight seasons in Houston before forcing a trade to the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. The Sixers are 8-1 since his return, with the only loss coming at Houston in his first game back from a foot injury. Harden opted out of a $47.4 million player option this summer to re-sign with the Sixers. Harden signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Sixers on July 27. NEW YORK — Is James Harden seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency? Harden said he didn’t know what the reporter was talking about.

The early chatter about Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard James Harden considering a return to Houston dates back to before he requested a trade out of ...

James Harden responded to an ESPN report Sunday that he's considering a return to the Rockets in free agency. He also enjoyed the present on Christmas at ...

[signed a two-year, $68.6 million deal with the Sixers that has a player option in Year 2.](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/james-harden-contract-sixers-nba-sixers-roster-2022-23-nba-season) That contract enabled the Sixers to sign two of Harden's former Rockets teammates in P.J. There’s a lot of questions, but it’s good questions to have, good problems to have.” They've lately appeared to be a team with formidable star talent, elite defensive potential, and role players with both toughness and the tools to do their jobs. “He’s a huge part of what we want to do. Harden is clearly going to be a big part of however this season turns out. [At media day in late September](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/james-harden-sixers-media-day-2022-joel-embiid-danuel-house-nba), Harden sounded like he expected a long-term stay in Philadelphia. The Sixers didn't have a championship-contending sort of start to this season. Just going through what I went through these past few years, my focus is on taking it one year at a time and just making sure I fulfill everything that I do individually. [helped guide the 20-12 Sixers to an eighth win a row. In the regular season, the Sixers are now 24-12 when that duo plays. “I’m here, we’re playing very well and I don’t know where that report came from," Harden said. And, with Joel Embiid on the bench ahead of his final stint, Harden drained tightly contested three-pointers, fed Georges Niang open jumpers, and

The NBA's hottest team resides in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid had 35 points and James Harden added a 29-point, 13-assist double-double as the 76ers came from.

Embiid sleepwalked through a quiet first quarter before finally turning it on late in the second, scoring seven points in the final two minutes, nine seconds to help the Sixers pull within three at the break. 5 seed if the season ended today. His 29 points were his most in more than two months, while his five threes tied a season high. LeBron James (28)

*Made 5 threes vs. The second was up-and-down. FINAL: Sixers 119, Knicks 112.

The first quarter was horrific.

The Sixers powered through a slow start and leaned on their stars again Sunday. With a 119-112 Christmas victory at Madison Square Garden, they've now won ...

NEW YORK–The Philadelphia 76ers got off to a slow start on Christmas Day as they took on the New York Knicks on the road. The noon game on the Christmas ...

It was too easy for them as far as they just kept getting whatever they wanted and he kept us in the game and we started getting to the line more often and then from there, we just knew what to do to be able to get the lead and win the game.” “He kept us in the game,” said Embiid. The noon game on the Christmas slate is always one to worry about due to the fact that it is so early and it throws everybody off.

He signed a two-year, $68.8 million contract with Philadelphia in July. The Sixers entered Christmas on a seven-game winning streak, but, according to ESPN, he ...

[Ben Simmons](/nba/players/2202822/ben-simmons/), [Seth Curry](/nba/players/2089523/seth-curry/), [Andre Drummond](/nba/players/1992788/andre-drummond/) and two first-round picks to the Nets. Smith and [Iman Shumpert](/nba/players/1646428/iman-shumpert/). He would lead the league in assists if he had played enough games to be eligible. 1 picks in the draft -- for [Kevin Love](/nba/players/1622545/kevin-love/). [Andrew Wiggins](/nba/players/2135571/andrew-wiggins/) -- at the time, the last two No. According to ESPN, Harden could be months away from leaving a team that is all-in on winning a championship to rejoin the team that he left less than two years ago, a team that now has a 9-23 record, the worst in the West, and is in the league's bottom four on both offense and defense. [Jalen Green](/nba/players/26602347/jalen-green/), 21-year-old [Jabari Smith](/nba/players/26776259/jabari-smith/) Jr. Tucker](/nba/players/1113186/p-j-tucker/) and Danuel House, and, in October, [the league took away its 2023 and 2024 second-round picks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-docks-76ers-two-future-second-round-picks-for-violating-leagues-tampering-rules-in-offseason/) after an investigation revealed that it had engaged in discussions with Tucker and House before it was permitted to do so. [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/PHI/philadelphia-76ers/) something pretty strange. For all of Harden's history and connection with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and CEO Tad Brown, his working relationships with Embiid and coach Doc Rivers resemble something closer to a work in progress. "We're playing very well and I don't know where that report came from, but I'm excited to be here and we're playing very well. After what would become relatively brief stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, a move back to a rebuilding Rockets franchise would effectively represent comfort and familiarity over an immediate championship pursuit.

The Sixers are still hot. After going undefeated in a seven-game homestand, the Sixers wandered into the Big Apple...

Tom Thibodeau said after today’s game Knicks were in two different coverages on James Harden in the fourth quarter. Overall, Harden concluded the game with 29 points and 13 assists in 43 minutes, while Embiid generated 35 points and eight rebounds. Harden had the other 3-pointer to go with five assists in that quarter.

The Philadelphia 76ers surged past the New York Knicks with a big second half on Sunday afternoon to win the game 119-112. Embiid had 35 points.

With the 76ers rolling, Harden didn't want to think about his future. He made another 3 in the opening minute of the fourth to tie it at 98, then found Niang for a 3 that gave the 76ers their first lead with 10:37 to play. Bernard King, who set the Christmas record with 60 points in 1984, was at the game. 24, 2014, by Carmelo Anthony, the former All-Star who was seated next to him and got a huge ovation when shown on the overhead videoboard in the first quarter. ... The Knicks played their final home game of 2022. Embiid, the NBA's scoring leader, started slowly and the Knicks led 37-25 after one. "It was one of those games where you’ve just got to stick around," Harden said. Knicks: The Knicks fell to 23-32 in their league-high 55 Christmas appearance. 76ers: Coach Doc Rivers said PJ Tucker had some kind of pain or injury that was affecting his hand, but he wasn't worried about it yet. Embiid scored 15 in the third quarter and Harden took over the game when Embiid went to the bench, with a four-point play and another 3-pointer that trimmed it to 96-95. Embiid scored 35 points, Harden had 29 points and 13 assists and the 76ers blew by the He and James Harden have the Sixers on too good a roll to stay down too long.

Joel Embiid scored 35 points and James Harden added 29 as Philadelphia beat host New York 119-112.

Poole was tossed for the first time in his career with 9:20 left and Golden State had six technical fouls. “We left it in the locker room at halftime.” had 16 of his 26 points in a huge third quarter for Dallas and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-115.

NEW YORK — James Harden has figured out when to pick his spots. The 76ers are not quite there yet, but they are starting to grow a sense of invincibility.

If I’m not aggressive and I’m not dominant to start the game, it just translates to the whole team. The Sixers trailed, 37-25, after the first 12 minutes because of their defensive shortcoming. And they were down 14 in the first quarter to the Knicks. “We just have to take it one game at a time. Some of the guys were talking about that in the locker room after the game. He said the team is heading in the right direction toward their destination: the NBA Finals. “We’ve got to change it, for the start,” Embiid said. “We try not to have that feeling, because obviously we can be beaten any night. He took a backseat when Joel Embiid was cooking in the third quarter. [Today] was one of those scenarios where he just let me go [and continue a two-man game with Niang]. But they need to erase their slow starts. But he took over after Embiid left late in the quarter.

Now he can't make it through a regular season without destabilizing a team. The Nets and 76ers were willing to roll those dice because they thought he was good ...

He'd made it clear early in his career that his goal was to bring a championship to his hometown, and that he was returning to finally do that. [Kevin Durant](/nba/players/1231866/kevin-durant/), and if he leaves Philadelphia, it means he wasn't satisfied with [Joel Embiid](/nba/players/2135528/joel-embiid/) either. Perhaps Harden is hoping for something similar, a title push fueled by a combination of Houston's incumbent young players and the assets it could use to get him some older ones. A year later, he forced his way to Philadelphia, and if he's gone this offseason, it means he failed yet again there. They could use that space to absorb bad contracts in exchange for draft capital, as many rebuilding teams have in the past. The 17.6 field goal attempts he takes each game ranks 31st in the league between [Zach LaVine](/nba/players/2135543/zach-lavine/) and [Anthony Davis](/nba/players/1992786/anthony-davis/). [Jabari Smith](/nba/players/26776259/jabari-smith/), the No. At a minimum, it makes sense for Harden to use Houston as leverage against Philadelphia if he wants to maximize his next payday. [Jalen Green](/nba/players/26602347/jalen-green/) and [Kevin Porter](/nba/players/3042574/kevin-porter/) Jr. [Rockets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/HOU/houston-rockets/), after all, have little in common with the Nets and 76ers. By the time that group is ready to win, the already-declining Harden will by 35 or 36, and given his conditioning habits, likely not aging as well as contemporaries such as [Chris Paul](/nba/players/555969/chris-paul/) and [LeBron James](/nba/players/400553/lebron-james/) have. [Sacramento Kings](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SAC/sacramento-kings/) that he managed only a meager four points.

On Christmas Day, James Harden blew off the reports he is considering a return to Houston this offseason, saying his focus is in Philly.

[Joel Embiid](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30040/joel-embiid) is playing like an MVP, Harden has found a groove, the role players are stepping up and Philly has won eight in a row and looked like more of a threat to Boston and Milwaukee. The Rockets have a strong young core — [Jalen Green](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/60023/jalen-green), [Kevin Porter Jr.](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51051/kevin-porter-jr), Alperen Sengun, [Jabari Smith](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/66333/jabari-smith) Jr. Philly can play this season out, see what happens in the playoffs, then the 76ers can judge next steps and make their offer to Harden. Harden has a player option for next season that nobody expects him to pick up (barring some injury or unexpected circumstance). Harden was colorful on the podium postgame but his comments were straightforward, [via NBC Sports Philadelphia](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-james-harden-report-sixers-vs-knicks-nba-christmas-day-2022). [Harden was considering a return to Houston this offseason](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/12/25/harden-reportedly-open-to-houston-return-truth-or-negotiation-tactic/). As we wrote before, this rumor changes nothing for Daryl Morey and the 76ers. Message sent to Philly about next summer’s negotiations, but Sixers fans have what they need to ignore the report. [reports of Harden being interested a Houston reunion are not new](https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-james-harden-has-long-had-interest-in-returning-to-rockets-174548000.html). When it was explained to him, Harden got testy. “I’m here, we’re playing very well and I don’t know where that report came from,” Harden said. The 76ers entered Christmas Day on a seven-game winning streak,

James Harden was both naughty and nice to 76ers fans on Christmas. Yeah, he led the Philadelphians to their eighth straight win over the Knicks with a ...

The Nets don’t want to see a scenario like the one that played out in 2017 when they lost out on Jayson Tatum because of the pick swap included in the ill-fated trade for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. A lot will happen and there is a decent amount of speculation that Harden, through his sources, just wants the 76ers to think about a bigger extension in the off-season or he wants something else: like a change in head coaches. Maybe, although by the time Philly has to give up that pick in 2027, a lot of people will be a lot older. Indeed, Houston’s strategy in requiring those future swaps involved the hope that Brooklyn would be in a rebuild mode by the latter part of this decade and the swaps become valuable. The Nets also generated a huge trade exception that along with the 2023 first they used to acquire Royce O’Neale from Utah. The Nets picked up two firsts in the outgoing Harden trade back in February. Nets fans can chuckle, if they want, in the news that Harden might once again try to force his way out of a team, as he did when he moved from Brooklyn to Houston in 2021, then from Brooklyn to Philadelphia in 2022. The Nets sent James Harden and Paul Millsap to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond. As long as the Rockets pick is better, that is higher, in 2025 and 2027 than the Nets, Brooklyn keeps its picks, the swap is “extinguished” as they say. The Rockets also received guard Dante Exum and a 2022 first round draft pick from Cleveland (via Milwaukee), and Brooklyn acquired a 2024 second round draft pick from the Cavaliers to complete the deal. The Rockets currently have the second worst record in the NBA.) So, if Houston, armed with Harden and a solid young core, becomes a better team than Brooklyn by then, it raises the chances for swaps with the Nets.

The former MVP and 76ers star wasn't exactly in the Christmas spirit when addressing reporters Sunday.

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James Harden's future with the 76ers is in question. What's being said about the All-Star's thoughts about a potential return to Houston?

While there was a lot of speculation about a potentially significant long-term deal getting done later on down the line, the narrative has now shifted towards whether Harden wants to remain in Philly long-term or if he wants to move back to Houston to reunite with the Rockets. According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, The answer seems to be simple; Houston has become home to James Harden. [Philadelphia 76ers](http://si.com/nba/76ers) and the [New York Knicks](http://si.com/nba/knicks) were set to tip off for their Christmas Day matchup, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on something that was already being speculated in the weeks leading up to the primetime matchup at Madison Square Garden. As we know now, Harden’s time in Brooklyn was short-lived, and the star eventually landed with the Sixers during the second half of the 2021-2022 NBA season. [Houston Rockets](http://si.com/nba/rockets) aren’t Harden’s first NBA franchise, but they are certainly the home for the ten-time All-Star.

I'm here, we're playing very well and I don't know where that report came from."

James Harden is eyeing a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency next season. Here's why Houston shouldn't do it.

yet, who could either be a secondary player or trade bait for the Rockets in this scenario. The real question, though, is if this gambit of a signing is worth doing for Houston. In his time with the Rockets, Porter has developed into a reliable playmaker and scorer for the team. There’s certainly an argument to be made that the Rockets can build a contender around James Harden. Let’s entertain the idea that James Harden fancies this Rockets team as a contender with him in free agency. The Rockets have made him a focal piece of their offense, feeding him the ball from the post. A big part of that is the disconnect between the timelines and fit between Harden and Houston’s up-and-coming stars. Aside from Sengun, the Rockets have handed the keys of the offense to Kevin Porter Jr. [James Harden](https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-james-harden-rockets-reunion-smoke-gets-gas-dumped-on-it-by-woj) is reportedly considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency. Alperen Sengun is built from the Nikola Jokic mold: a tall post-up playmaker with insane vision and passing chops. Despite all of the nostalgia about this move, though, the Rockets have plenty of reasons not to welcome back James Harden in free agency. The current Houston roster is built for the future.

In case you missed it, the NBA held its much-anticipated Christmas Day games, including some playoff rematches and an interesting James Harden report.

They played up the burgeoning rivalry they have with Memphis with some sublime shi*t talking toward [Dillon Brooks](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=Dillon+Brooks) as well. [Jordan Poole](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=Jordan+Poole) did what he had to do to play Grinch and ruin the Grizzlies’ Christmas after he dropped a team-high 32 points to lead the Warriors past Memphis on Sunday. Oscar Robertson (1961, 1962) accomplished it twice, and James Harden did it in 2016. [02](https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/most-elite-hoop-collections-241/) [per ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401468652). The two-time MVP recorded a 40-point, 27-rebound, 10-assist performance a week ago. [per ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401468651). He’s still a young player,” head coach Steve Kerr said Boston grabbed a 100-86 lead after Tatum scored 20 points in the third quarter, and Brown brought the Celtics home with 13 points in the final frame; he also refused to back down after posting a screen that sent the Greek Freak to the ground. The players don’t take it seriously, and neither should basketball fans. “I’m here, we’re playing very well, and I don’t know where that report came from,” Harden said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. [per ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401468648).