According to a 76ers insider, James Harden is destined to head back to the Rockets. What does this mean for Houston and Philadelphia going forward?
It isn't over until the two big insiders report it but it seems like James Harden will be leaving Philly and heading back to Houston. Rumors have been circulating for a while and 76ers insider Keith Pompey says his sources expect Harden to head back to Houston this offseason.
In a world where misinformation runs rampant, it would be pretty smart to trust Pompey due to the fact he has been reporting the Sixers since 2013.
NBA rumors: What would James Harden bring to the Rockets?
For the Rockets, this team has plenty of assets going forward to build around Harden. After trading away all of their picks and then getting all of the Nets' picks later in the trade of James Harden, they should be able to trade picks for upgrades in the future.
Also, the Rockets have plenty of young players on cheap contracts that they can shop for veteran players. Finally, the Rockets have $60+ million in cap space. After Harden's max slot, the Rockets should have enough money to get another max slot.
NBA rumors: What do the 76ers do without James Harden?
This report (if true) puts Joel Embiid on trade request watch until the Sixers are able to get a co-star for the All-NBA player or Tyrese Maxey is able to get up to an All-NBA level.
The Sixers have Joel Embiid under contract for the next couple of years and don't have to trade him. But if he makes clear he isn't happy, the clock starts for Philadelphia.
They do have tradeable picks but not a lot. Philly had already traded their pick this year, and can't trade their pick next year. It is the same story in 2026. Finally, starting in 2028, Philly can start trading picks. With the amount of time that the Sixers have with Embiid's contract, they can retool around him. But they need to be aggressive.
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