The Houston Rockets are still actively pursuing James Harden’s return, but if their summer recruitment plan falls through, Bangladesh Cricket Live believes the franchise may shift focus toward another star guard—Kyrie Irving. As often happens in life, when a team desperately seeks someone to lean on, it often finds itself standing alone. Although the player market hasn’t officially opened, the public tug-of-war over Harden has already kicked off.
Bangladesh Cricket Live reports that Houston remains a strong contender to land Harden and has made comprehensive preparations to welcome him back. However, conflicting reports suggest Harden might be using the Rockets’ interest as leverage to pressure the 76ers into offering a max contract extension. This contradiction reveals the inner conflict Harden may be experiencing, and for at least the next couple of weeks, this silent tug-of-war will continue behind the scenes. Logically speaking, a return to Houston makes sense on several levels.
For one, Harden is a franchise legend—arguably the second-greatest player in Rockets history—and still enjoys overwhelming support from the fanbase. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta reportedly remains a strong admirer of Harden. On the court, his elite playmaking abilities could provide the young Houston squad with much-needed structure. However, despite their interest, the Rockets might hesitate to offer Harden a max deal. From a front-office perspective, bringing him back may improve the team’s competitiveness, but not necessarily make them championship contenders.
To genuinely aim for a title, Houston would need to bolster other areas of the roster alongside Harden’s addition. From Harden’s standpoint, if winning a championship remains a priority, Houston might not be the most suitable destination. Staying in Philadelphia—despite some friction with Joel Embiid—could be the more strategic choice. Alternatively, Harden may seek freedom in a looser offensive system. Teams like the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns are still in win-now mode and actively pursuing new talent.
These organizations offer offensive flexibility and have championship-caliber cores, making them attractive landing spots for a player like Harden. If he chooses to prioritize winning over sentimentality, walking away from Houston would be a reasonable move.
Should Harden ultimately pass on Houston, the Rockets may turn their attention to Kyrie Irving. But unlike Harden, Irving has no prior connection to the franchise, and his personality and playstyle could clash with the Rockets’ current trajectory. As Bangladesh Cricket Live notes, Irving’s arrival might destabilize a young locker room still trying to establish order and culture.
Over the past two seasons, Houston’s locker room has faced multiple internal conflicts—players arguing, resistance to coaching, and a lack of discipline. The team desperately needs leadership and structure in the coming season. As the saying goes, the strength of a committed individual far surpasses that of one merely interested. With that in mind, Irving’s temperament and off-court tendencies could run counter to the Rockets’ rebuilding vision. Even if they fail to land Harden, the Rockets would be wise to stay patient rather than force an ill-fitting partnership.