James Harden Rumors: Rivals Convinced Rockets Are Serious About Pursuit of 76ers Star

The Houston Rockets are expected to be big players in the free-agent market this offseason, and it appears the franchise is heavily interested in bringing back one of its former players.

Before Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden dropped 45 points in a Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics, the Rockets "had already convinced numerous rivals that it is serious" about making a run at the three-time scoring champion this summer, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Harden's future with the 76ers is in question as he can opt out of the final year of his contract by June 29 to become a free agent. He has a player option worth $35.6 million for the 2023-24 campaign.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported during an episode of his podcast (around the 29-minute mark) last month that Harden could return to the Rockets ahead of the 2023-24 season:

"James Harden's future is very unclear in Philadelphia. Houston is very much in play for him. And I think a lot may depend on, do they make a run and win and it's easy to pay him long-term big money? Or he just wants to be back in Houston, and win or lose, he goes. Or it's dependent on the team's success."

Harden hasn't made an official decision about his contract for next season. However, he hinted that he may enter free agency when he hired former Adidas executive Tom Payne to be his representative in February, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Payne is Harden's first full-time agency partnership since 2017, when his former agent, Rob Pelinka, became general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets have long been mentioned as a destination for Harden. Wojnarowski reported in December that The Beard was "considering" a return to Houston this summer, and The Athletic's Sam Amick and Kelly Iko reported in March that he was "serious" about doing so.

As one of the most financially flexible teams this summer with an estimated $60 million in cap space, the Rockets can throw a bag at Harden and hope he returns to the franchise.

Harden played for the Rockets from 2012 until he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in January 2021. He won his three scoring titles with the franchise, was a nine-time All-Star and won the 2017-18 MVP award.

Bringing Harden back alongside a talented, young group that includes Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr. and Alperen Sengun is exactly what Houston needs to have some success in 2023-24 and beyond.