In January 2021, the Rockets finally dealt James Harden away after he had requested a trade. Unknown to the public, team owner Tilman Fertitta told the star shooting guard that he was always welcome back to the team in the future and Harden’s openness to a reunion was mutual.
With a possible free agency looming, Harden is just as serious as before when entertaining a return to the Rockets, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Kelly Iko. Harden is expected to decline his player option for the 2023–24 season and if that were to happen, Houston would pursue him. ESPN was the first to report that Harden was seriously considering a return to the Rockets in December.
It’s been a rocky road for both Harden and the Rockets since the two split up. His teaming up alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving with the Nets didn’t work out and it resulted in his requesting another trade, this time landing with the 76ers. Meanwhile, the Rockets are in the midst of one of the worst stretches in franchise history.
The former Western Conference powerhouse had the worst record in both the 2020–21 and the 2021–22 seasons and is on pace to do it a third time. Houston is currently an NBA-worst 13–48 and would need a lot more than Harden to return to prominence.
But it appears the former MVP is open to the idea of joining the young squad.
