Could James Harden return to Rockets?

"There's a lot of dot-connecting, 'Hey, if things don't work out in Philly, James Harden back in Houston, just keep an eye out on that.'" McMahon said. 

At 9-21, the Rockets hold the worst record in the Western Conference, and making a move for a big-ticket piece wouldn't make much sense right now. However, the Rockets have future cap-space flexibility and could own multiple first-round picks over the next few seasons, meaning they might be star-hunting sooner rather than later. 

Whether or not Harden will be one of the players Houston targets is impossible to know right now. But there's a flip side to the coin. Right now, the Sixers are playing well with Harden paired alongside Joel Embiid, and who knows what will happen in Philly between now and the time Harden is eligible for free agency. Things could go downhill for the Sixers, and Harden might look for a way out before his contract expires at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Then again, Philly might continue to thrive with the Harden/Embiid duo, thus nullifying any of the whispers about a return to Houston. 

Harden has one year remaining on a two-year, $68.6 million deal with the Sixers. The three-time scoring champ is eligible for free agency after the 2023-2024 season, when he'll be 35 years old. 

In his first full season with the Sixers, Harden is averaging 21.9 points, 10.5 assists, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals over 15 games. Harden recently returned from a right foot tendon strain causing him to miss 14 games.