The Houston Rockets don’t want to give James Harden a max contract in free agency, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
“It begins with James Harden, Houston’s top free agent target,” Scotto said. “With that said, there are rumblings the Rockets don’t want to give him a max contract. For Harden, he’s weighing returning home to Houston for family reasons, the chance to have other veterans join him in free agency with all their cap space, and playing with Houston’s young core players versus having the chance to remain with the MVP Joel Embiid and an Eastern Conference where he’s already on a Top 4 contending team.”
Harden is expected to decline his 2023-24 player option with the Philadelphia 76ers to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Kelly Iko of The Athletic, who covers the Rockets, doesn’t think Houston will offer Harden a max deal.
“Do I think the Rockets are willing to give him the max? No,” Iko told Scotto. “They want to add at least three or four veterans, and you can’t do that conceivably if you’re giving Harden upwards of $45-50 million. If it comes to a deal in the range of $30-33 million, I can see that. Then, you still have enough to get another marquee guy or two.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets have more than $60 million in cap space. They also have the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Houston is poised to improve its roster drastically this offseason.
Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game and recorded 36 double-doubles and five triple-doubles.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers & Houston Rockets Updates
The Sixers, despite having Harden and MVP Joel Embiid, lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games.
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