The increasing chatter about longtime Rockets superstar James Harden potentially leaving the Brooklyn Nets after less than two seasons appears to have roots in both basketball and well beyond.
One of those reasons? Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Harden simply doesn’t enjoy living in Brooklyn to the extent he did in Houston.
In a story published Tuesday, Fischer writes:
His new city could also be an issue. According to multiple sources, Harden has not enjoyed living in Brooklyn, compared to his days as a central Houston magnate. Outside of the change in climate, the chasm between state taxes in New York versus Texas is quite obvious as well.
Though Harden can become a free agent as soon as the 2022 offseason, the latest news isn’t likely to immediately impact the Rockets. Even if Harden theoretically wanted to return to Houston, it’s hard to envision him doing so at 32 years old — with his NBA prime years clearly starting to dwindle — to join a young Rockets group that entered Tuesday tied for the worst record in the Western Conference.
As Fischer writes in the article, Harden remains invested in competing for the NBA title, which he has yet to win in his career. Joining the Rockets in their current form would not appear to boost his odds of doing so.
Nonetheless, Harden’s potential departure for anywhere else could bolster the long-term value of future Brooklyn draft picks — and Houston effectively controls Brooklyn’s first-round selections through 2027 thanks to the combination of picks and swap rights obtained via the blockbuster Harden trade between the Rockets and Nets in January 2021.
Plus, if nothing else, Harden’s endorsement of life in Houston can’t hurt when it comes to the Rockets pursuing other NBA players.
Ever-important behind Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons trade talks, James Harden has recently told several confidants—including former teammates and coaches—of his growing interest to explore other opportunities outside of Brooklyn this summer. More at @BR_NBA: https://t.co/zy5dEwPSfP
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 25, 2022
