NBA Insider Suspects James Harden Rumors Are for Leverage

Since Christmas, the Houston Rockets have been rumored to have an interest in bringing James Harden back. According to several reports over the course of the 2022-2023 NBA season, the interest is apparently mutual — and a Harden-Houston reunion is certainly a possibility.

However, the Sixers aren’t quite ready to move on from the ten-time All-Star guard just yet.

When Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey met with the media last Wednesday, he mentioned that the team’s “Plan A” was to get Harden back to Philadelphia. Considering Harden is expected to decline his player option for next season, the Sixers would have to bring him back on a brand new multi-year contract.

Late last week, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Harden’s market could be over $200 million. On his latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst also speculates that the noise surrounding Harden regarding his interest in returning to Houston could be a leverage play.

“James Harden being rumored to be attached to the Rockets, I still suspect all of that is one giant leverage play. That, what James Harden really wants is to elicit the biggest offer out of the Sixers even if it isn’t a max [contract]. Whatever the number of money is, for as long as many years as he can get. And that this slow dance for months and these rumors are all sort of tied to that.

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And I think that Kyrie could be doing the same exact thing [with the Mavericks]. Just doing all of this, and whatever he may do between now and free agency to try to get the juiciest offer he can from the team he’s on. Cause [the Sixers and Mavericks] face the most damage from losing those guys.”

On one hand, Harden’s interest in returning to Houston makes sense, considering he was there for nearly a decade and still considers the city home. The Rockets could offer Harden familiarity, the contract he desires, and the keys to the offense, as he would become the most notable player by joining a young team that’s been amidst a rebuild.

On the other hand, the Sixers can offer more money than the Rockets and have been to the playoffs for the last six seasons. After the Sixers wrapped up Game 7 against the Boston Celtics a couple of weeks back, Harden mentioned that he wants to be in a situation where he’s competing for a title.

While other contenders reach out to Harden during the offseason, it seems the race for his services is a two-team battle. And in that battle, the Sixers certainly possess the better roster, giving them a much higher chance to compete for a title than the Rockets.

Don’t rule out a Houston reunion for Harden, as many seem to believe the smoke surrounding the situation is real. However, it could all just be one big leverage play in the end.