Amid an ugly breakup with the Rockets organization early into the 2020-21 season, the 10-time All-Star and former MVP described the team’s situation under then first-year head coach Stephen Silas as “something I don’t think can be fixed.” But Harden’s connection to Houston has remained strong, as he still has family living in the city, as well as several business connections.
On Monday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski acknowledged the talks of Harden returning to Houston as a “very real possibility.” He also brought up the possibility of it being a leverage play that the 33-year-old guard is using to “get him the kind of guaranteed money, long-term money he wants in Philly.