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<\/figure>\n James Harden is a deeply unserious franchise cornerstone. However, within the midst of a pivotal, legacy-defining season for his profession, Harden could also be eyeing a return in free company to the Rockets franchise he compelled his method out of two years in the past, in keeping with a report from ESPN\u2019s Adrian Wojnarowski<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n Harden wanting out at this specific time is sudden, to say the least. Harden signed a prove-it two-year, $68.6 million contract with Philadelphia within the offseason that features a participant choice for subsequent season. Thus far, issues are going effectively. Philadelphia has received 11 of its final 14 video games since Thanksgiving. Just final week, he tallied a franchise-record 21 assists and is on observe to be named to his eleventh consecutive All-Star staff. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid continues to be peaking. Surely, Harden would have shot down this Woj Bomb posthaste on Christmas Day. Instead, he provided up a traditional non-denial.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here, we\u2019re playing very well,\u201d Harden mentioned after Philadelphia\u2019s 119-112 victory in opposition to the Knicks. \u201cI don\u2019t know where the report came from, but I\u2019m excited to be here, we\u2019re playing well and we\u2019re continuing to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n Harden\u2019s eyes have at all times been greater than his abdomen. In Oklahoma City he had staff success however longed to be the main star elsewhere. For practically a decade in Houston, he registered absurd numbers, however clashed with friends who may have helped him hoist a Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy. He talked his method out of Brooklyn the place he, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving got here inches away from knocking off the eventual champs in a Game 7.<\/p>\n He\u2019s nonetheless in an excellent place to compete for rings with Philly, however he\u2019s by no means appeared overly involved with championship pursuits. If he\u2019s sending hints that he\u2019s seeking to rejoin one of many NBA\u2019s youngest groups, then it could seem he\u2019s all however falling by the wayside on a title. <\/p>\n He may have entertained a transfer to Sacramento or Atlanta or Los Angeles to affix the Lakers, however Harden has tried pairing up together with his friends earlier than. He\u2019s not constructed for that form of accountability. His low effort when confronted with adversity and slothful play are the largest pockmark on a playmaking savant who’s immensely gifted, however unable to entry the additional stage of effort megastars discover within the postseason.<\/p>\n He could also be making the calculation {that a} younger squad with its high contributors all on rookie contracts off the following two years wouldn\u2019t be so squeamish about paying him $50 million a season. <\/p>\n A return to Houston just like the one LeBron had in Cleveland after Kyrie Irving, and Andrew Wiggins had been drafted first total by the Cavs is the dream. Or he believes he might be the elixir that Chris Paul has been to the Phoenix Suns. James Harden isn’t that dude. <\/p>\n Anytime Harden faces larger requirements, he both chases his companions away or jumps ship. The grass is at all times greener on the opposite facet. But Harden is delusional if he thinks he\u2019s what Houston\u2019s junior Rockets want proper now. At 34, Philly wouldn\u2019t even decide to a long-term supermax deal as a consequence of Harden\u2019s underwhelming play and poor conditioning throughout his first half season as a Sixer.<\/p>\n