Rockets rumors: James Harden, Houston share mutual reunion interest, but there’s a catch

While the Houston Rockets are out of the playoffs and the Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the mix for a possible championship this postseason, rumors are floating around that James Harden and the Rockets’ organization have had mutual interest for a reunion in past years. However, for whatever reason, that reunion has just not come to fruition.

Reports indicate that the Rockets had two attempts to bring the 36-year-old point guard back to Houston since they initially traded Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, according to Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon of ESPN. There was a chance in 2023, but the front office signed Fred VanVleet instead, then another opportunity arose in the 2025-26 campaign.

“Over the past several years, according to team sources and those close to Harden, there has been mutual interest in a reunion,” reported Shelburne and MacMahon. “The first opportunity for it came in 2023, when the organization chose to sign VanVleet to a three-year, $130 million contract, rather than pursue Harden after he had failed to land a maximum contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“The next opportunity came this season, when Harden’s representatives gauged the Rockets’ interest in him following the L.A. Clippers’ 6-21 start,” continued Shelburne and MacMahon. “After VanVleet’s injury, a reunion with their former point guard made a lot more sense, they thought. And Houston was closer to contention after trading for Durant in the offseason, and Harden was still playing at a high level.”

In the end, the Houston brass decided against it and never quite addressed the point guard situation. Instead, James Harden was sent to Cleveland after the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Clippers.

Maybe Houston will attempt to acquire the 17-year veteran in the offseason. For now, Harden is playing for a true contender with the Cavs, while the Rockets are enjoying an early vacation after being eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

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