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James Harden ‘remains in the Houston Rockets’ offseason plans’… despite the franchise drafting No.4 overall pick Amen Thompson
- Harden, 33, is expected to decline his $35.6M player option to be a free agent
- ‘The Beard’ is torn between staying in Philly or returning to Southeast Texas
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The Houston Rockets are believed to be heavily interested in bringing back James Harden, despite the franchise drafting another guard in No. 4 pick Amen Thompson last week, according to The Athletic.
‘The Beard’ is likely to decline his $35.6million player option with the 76ers and head into the offseason as a free agent, as soon as Friday, per multiple NBA reports.
Both the Rockets and Philadelphia are expected to be the frontrunners to land the former MVP.
Earlier in June, Shams Charania, of The Athletic, mentioned in another report that Harden, who’ll turn 34 in August, is seriously ‘torn’ between going back to Southeast Texas or staying put in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Rockets, now coached by Ime Udoka, are still in the process of rebuilding its roster around 21-year-old guard Jalen Green, since trading away Harden to the Brooklyn Nets at the start of the 2021-2022 season.
The Houston Rockets still plan to aggressively pursue former guard James Harden this summer
The Rockets boosted its backcourt by selecting No.4 pick Amen Thompson in this year’s draft
In contrast, the upcoming 2023-24 season will be championship or bust for Philly.
The 76ers suffered a Eastern Conference Finals exit to the Boston Celtics this past season and fired former head coach Doc Rivers to replace him with Nick Nurse – a 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors.
Joel Embiid, who won his first MVP award for his regular-season performance, is likely to stay on for at least one more season unless major changes to the team’s roster are made.
Harden is ‘torn’ between returning to Southeast Texas or to keep playing with MVP Joel Embiid
Philadelphia GM Daryl Morey, who knows Harden well from their time together in Houston, has made it no secret that he wants ‘The Beard’ to return to run the 76ers’ offense with Embiid for at least one more season.
Both players are seen as ‘pivotal’ to the team’s success and championship window.
Harden will have to assess both options, but the Rockets are believed to be pursuing its former offensive maestro aggressively this offseason.
Houston will have to fend off the unlikely possibility of Harden signing with the L.A. Lakers, if the Purple and Gold are still interested in bringing home the Compton-born guard, that is.
Harden was also linked with a shock reunion with Kevin Durant in Phoenix until the Suns landed Bradley Beal in a three-way trade that saw veteran guard Chris Paul – one of Harden’s teammates on the Rockets – land on the Golden State Warriors.
