The most recent information concerning James Harden’s pending free company stunned NBA followers on Wednesday, after it was reported the veteran guard feels “torn” over the choice to return to the 76ers or re-join the Rockets, the place he starred from 2012 to ’21.
Nevertheless, as the hypothesis surrounding Harden’s future continues to ramp up, a possible third touchdown spot has attracted a lot consideration following feedback from a number of NBA insiders who imagine the Suns may throw their hat within the ring.
Within the hours after Wednesday’s report, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports activities prompt Phoenix may look so as to add Harden, who’s anticipated to say no his $35.6 million participant possibility for the 2023–24 season forward of the June 29 deadline, alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Apparently, each reporters factored within the Suns’ ongoing state of affairs with Chris Paul as a possible key to any Harden talks. As stories of Phoenix’s intent to waive Paul lingered, Fischer floated the thought of a possible Harden-for-CP3 commerce, a situation he claimed “has quietly circulated round some league personnel for the reason that NBA draft mix in Chicago” again in mid-Could.
That very same day, the Harden-to-Phoenix chatter added one other notable nugget from Shelburne, who was dwell on ESPN radio when the information that Paul was set to be launched first broke.
“They don’t do this until they really feel fairly good about any person else. And I need you to maintain your eye on James Harden,” Shelburne mentioned throughout an look on ESPN 710’s Mason & Eire. “I don’t need to report something, however that was within the wind for the previous month or so. Everyone thinks it’s, like, Philly or Houston, however, I don’t know, there was dialogue within the wind.”
Whereas Shelburne stood agency in not calling her reply a “report,” her candid remarks, together with Fischer’s perception, will definitely provide loads of gas for the rumor mill as Harden’s choice looms massive.
It stays to be seen if Harden and Paul, who performed collectively in Houston for 2 seasons, ultimately are concerned in any type of deal, however a situation the place they swap locations may drastically have an effect on the league. Because it stands, that chance stays on the desk, as new Suns coach Frank Vogel confirmed this week in an interview with Sports activities Illustrated’s Chris Mannix the membership has not formally waived Paul regardless of earlier stories.
“We didn’t waive Chris,” Vogel instructed Mannix. “However there’s ongoing conversations about the entire choices to enhance the roster, which embrace trades, a waiving of sure gamers, and retaining the blokes that we now have again. These are simply ongoing conversations.”
