James Harden is currently on a contending team with the Philadelphia 76ers, and there’s no doubt that he has thrived as a pass-first guard next to Joel Embiid. Currently, James Harden is averaging 22.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 11.2 APG.
Even though he is on a contender right now, there have been some rumblings about James Harden potentially leaving for another team. A previous report suggested that James Harden is considering a return to the Houston Rockets.
Harden and his inner circle have been openly weighing Houston in recent months, sources said, a remarkable possibility given that he requested and received a trade out of the franchise less than two years ago.
His future with the 76ers remains a fluid proposition, one that has been buoyed with seven straight victories on the way into a Christmas Day meeting with the New York Knicks (noon ET on ABC and ESPN).
Harden is on a productive roll with All-NBA center Joel Embiid, and the state of that partnership and the Sixers’ postseason success could well be telltale factors in how Harden proceeds past this season. Experiencing a deep playoff run in a rabid, hungry Philadelphia marketplace could positively impact his thinking — just as the fallout of an early exit could, too.
It remains to be seen if James Harden does return to the Houston Rockets. He could certainly do well there, especially if he’s willing to wait for their young players to develop. His experience and skill level both suggest that he could be a solid veteran leader for the team.
NBA GM Believes James Harden Wouldn’t Be A Good Veteran Leader On Rockets
Though James Harden has all the qualities to be a great veteran for the Rockets, some aren’t so sure about that. In fact, an Eastern Conference GM who spoke to Ric Bucher of Fox Sports straight up laughed at that idea.
The Rockets, for their part, are open to adding some veteran leadership to their supremely young squad — Eric Gordon and Boban Marjanovic are the only Rockets with more than three years’ experience — and have ample cap space to sign a high-priced free agent. But would Harden be the kind of veteran a team would look to mentor younger players?
“Uh, no,” the Eastern Conference GM said, laughing.
The Houston Rockets are clearly looking for a veteran leader, and reuniting with a franchise legend would make for a good story. However, it is obvious that some people don’t believe that the fit is there.
With that being said, James Harden could definitely prove this GM wrong if he does come back to the Rockets and helps the team find a degree of success. Though he has already stated he is happy with the Philadelphia 76ers, that could change by the time free agency rolls around, and the Houston Rockets could benefit.
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