{"id":1543816,"date":"2022-12-27T17:46:26","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T22:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1543816"},"modified":"2022-12-27T17:46:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T22:46:27","slug":"60-million-reasons-james-harden-return-rockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/60-million-reasons-james-harden-return-rockets\/","title":{"rendered":"60 Million Reasons Why James Harden Will Consider a Return to the Rockets Next Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

James Harden<\/a> is back at it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the Christmas weekend, a report emerged insinuating the 10-time All-Star is interested in returning to the Houston Rockets<\/a> in free agency this offseason. Yes, the same franchise he quit on and requested a trade from not even two years ago. Whether or not you believe the report, there needs to be at least some veracity to it considering Harden's history of jumping ship for other teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though Harden is just starting to play his best basketball with the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>, there are 60 million reasons why he may opt out and rejoin the same franchise he left in the dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Harden is reportedly considering a Rockets reunion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"James
James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during a game against the New York Knicks | Dustin Satloff\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

76ers<\/a> fans were feeling confident about their squad heading into Sunday's Christmas matchup against the New York Knicks. The Sixers had won seven in a row after an up-and-down start to the season, the roster was finally starting to get healthy, and Harden was starting to look like his old, MVP self again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only, they weren't prepared for the Woj bomb heading straight for the Wells Fargo Center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Christmas morning, just a few hours before Philly's game against the Knicks, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN<\/a> reported that Harden has been considering a return to the Rockets this summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harden signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Sixers in July. He does, though, have a player option for the 2023-24 season, meaning he can decide to opt out of the second year and become a free agent this offseason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 76ers polished off a 119-112 win in which Harden went off for 29 points and 13 assists, the star point guard was asked about Woj's report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I'm here,” he told reporters Sunday. “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. We're continuing to get better.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harden can deny it all he wants, but money talks louder at the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

60 million reasons why James Harden would rejoin the Rockets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

I project the Rockets to have $59.3M in cap space this summer.

And that's without sacrificing any of their young core.

That's more than enough to add James Harden and to have enough left over to add more talent around him, along with keeping all the kids.

Interesting scenario!<\/p>— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 25, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>