A James Harden-Houston Rockets reunion is a mistake for all sides

There’s one factor that NBA followers love greater than the “ringz” debate: the offseason. With the entire strikes, trades, and switches, one of many extra common fan commerce archetypes is a reunion. These embody two gamers reuniting to ball collectively once more, a star going again to play for an outdated coach, and a participant returning to a staff. That’s the latest rumor that’s began to swirl round James Harden.

A current ESPN report gave a tough quantity on the prospect that Harden, who’s presently enjoying for the contending Philadelphia 76ers, may have a look at returning to the Houston Rockets this offseason. This report despatched shock waves by way of the NBA, as not solely would a transfer again to the Rockets change the trajectory of each Houston and Philadelphia, however it might shake the title race.

The final time Harden performed for the Rockets, he had a transfer to a contender on his thoughts. He lazed by way of the early season earlier than he was despatched to Brooklyn to play with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the tremendous staff that by no means actually was. After the Nets flamed out, Harden made his approach to a reunion of a special kind, enjoying with numerous former Rockets beneath GM Daryl Morey.

Regardless of the success of the 76ers this season, the rumors about Harden’s departure are already working rampant. However there are a number of the reason why spherical two of Harden in Houston can be dangerous for each participant and staff.

How has James Harden performed this season?

It’s pure to consider Harden as an MVP-caliber participant, particularly when Houston is talked about with him. It’s been a number of years because the peak of his powers, nonetheless, and the model of James Harden that exists now could be fairly totally different than when he performed for the Rockets.

That’s to not say he’s a foul participant now; removed from it. He was one of the vital cited All-Star snubs this 12 months, given he’s contributed effectively within the stats sheet and the wins column. Harden leads the league in assists this 12 months, ranks second on the staff in scoring, and has molded his recreation to be an ideal co-star with Joel Embiid. Their chemistry has carried Philadelphia all the way in which to the third seed within the east.

Whereas he at all times had the ball in his arms, Harden has develop into extra of a degree guard this 12 months than the heliocentric combo guard in his Houston heyday. The 2022-2023 model of him is an journey in opposites: whereas he’s within the midst of his 4th lowest-scoring season, it’s his third highest in assists. Though he’s averaging the 4th lowest quantity of turnovers per recreation, he’s additionally doing so on the 4th lowest utilization charge of his profession.

Harden’s remodeled himself as he’s aged to not be the scoring star anymore however to be the second banana on the 76ers. That’s resulted in among the crispiest passes of his profession discovering gamers off of screens and cuts:

That’s to not say that Harden’s develop into a slouch as a scorer both. As an alternative, with such a dominant expertise on his staff like Embiid, Harden has refined his shot eating regimen right into a extra environment friendly menu. He’s taking his lowest quantity of threes in seven seasons, but is taking pictures his greatest three-point proportion of his profession. He’s delivered bombs off of the catch, off of the bounce, and when the 76ers have wanted a talented shot-maker most:

As he enters the twilight of his prime, Harden has masterfully switched how he performs to suit into the hierarchy of the 76ers. He’s transitioned to the pure level guard that the staff wants to prepare their offense, taken a major however not huge step again in scoring, and relied extra on the perimeter than on the free throw line as he did at his peak.