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The Houston Rockets "expect" to sign James Harden this offseason, sources tell Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sources also tell Pompey that Harden's interest in returning to the Rockets is mutual and not a negotiating ploy with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden could sign for up to $210 million over four seasons with the Sixers, or up to $201.7 million over four seasons with a rival team. The Rockets are positioned to have approximately $60 million in cap space.

Harden's mother still lives in Houston and he has several business ventures there.

“He’s treated like a god in Houston,” said one source.

Via Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

This moves makes no sense to me for Houston.

From a business and marketing standpoint, this makes a lot of sense. Basketball-wise - not so much.

Harden is a hobo now. He doesn't know where he lives. Maybe he considers Houston his home now.

And that is how you can completely mess a rebuild…

Great, can't wait until playground basketball returns to Houston. Go ahead and trade all of our picks and mortgage our future again with GM Harden

I expect HOU to be pretty bad either way.

Someone should ask the rockets how are they going to be a better team with Harden when they have a lot of young talent to develop a nd a number 4 pick to choose.
Is Harden going to teach the youngsters some tricks, or is he going to get paid, get fatter, and get their minutes.

Are they really going to believe in a guy who left them to go to Brooklyn and then to embark in another project he is leaving after two years... ???
Maybe they deserve each other...

Only a damn fool would pay him that kind of money. He is washed and will suck the life out of a young team. Shows what his priorities are. Get a max deal and have no to low expectations.

He is coming back, no doubt about it.

What are houstons fans thought on this?

Rockets fans “expect” the same old shenanigans.

Yeah he should probably go back to Houston.

Beard is going back to Houston for 50m season pay day. Not to win playoff basketball games. Their owner is not a winner either so it’s a trickle down production.

Show me the money!

I doubt Houston signs any other vets for more than the MLE (at most) and wind up paying Harden more in salary than the other 14 Rockets.

If Udoka and Harden don’t become fast friends this will get ugly quick. Lot of young talent to waste. Hiring Udoka seems like a brainfart if your signing Harden through his 40th bday.

POLI wrote:Someone should ask the rockets how are they going to be a better team with Harden when they have a lot of young talent to develop and a number 4 pick to choose.

I expect that pick to get traded for PJ Tucker and a bag of Fritos.

WuriderX wrote:Only a damn fool would pay him that kind of money. He is washed and will suck the life out of a young team. Shows what his priorities are. Get a max deal and have no to low expectations.

Giving a supermax extension to a player over 30 is a waste of money. Just like Portland were damn fools to give Dame a 2 yr 120m extension. How do you upgrade the roster when 1 player is 1/2 your salary cap?

Damn, KD’s supermax deal is already killing it’s second franchise.