Report: Rockets could keep Eric Gordon to help lure James Harden in free agency

In his latest Howdy Partners podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon refers to James Harden to Houston as a “significant” possibility in 2023 free agency, and keeping Eric Gordon beyond the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline for the 2022-23 season could be part of that plan.

“Some people I’ve talked to in Houston say there’s an understanding that James Harden really enjoys playing with Eric Gordon,” MacMahon says, as relayed by Dave Hardisty of ClutchFans.

At face value, the 34-year-old Gordon seems to be a trade candidate for the rebuilding Rockets, who own the NBA’s worst record.

Gordon isn’t in age alignment with Houston’s young core, and since he’s in the final fully guaranteed season of his contract, trading him could accomplish a mutually beneficial goal. It could free up Gordon to play for a title contender this season, and it would allow the Rockets to avoid any risk of him leaving for no compensation this offseason — should they need to let go of his contract to maximize their salary cap room (up to $60 million) for 2023 free agency.

But, what if Gordon’s presence is viewed as a positive for their rumored pursuit of a reunion with Harden (who is also 34 years old)? The duo played together from the 2016-17 season until Harden’s departure from the Rockets in January 2021, and their connections — both on and off the court — appeared to be strong over that time.

While Harden isn’t quite the perennial MVP candidate that he was during his prime Houston years, he’s clearly still All-Star caliber and remains one of the league’s elite playmakers and offensive creators.

Tim says it feels like the #Rockets waited too long to trade Eric Gordon, but calls Harden to Houston a “significant” possibility. “Some people I’ve talked to in Houston say, ‘Hey, there’s an understanding that James Harden really enjoys playing with Eric Gordon.'” https://t.co/CyXHIwn9rb pic.twitter.com/DaWx1m7y7j

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) January 18, 2023

A potential free agent in July, Harden is averaging 21.7 points (44.5% FG, 38.2% on 3-pointers), 11.1 assists and 6.3 rebounds in 37.0 minutes per game with the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

On paper, Harden’s profile and age might not seem to fit with a young squad like the Rockets. But some important context, in this case, is that Houston is incentivized to turn things around quickly after this season, since they no longer have control of their first-round draft assets in the 2024-2026 window (Oklahoma City does). That’s not typically the case for most rebuilding teams of Houston’s ilk.

In theory, Houston could trade Gordon at the deadline to recoup some value and then potentially attempt to sign him back in the 2023 offseason, along with Harden. However, that plan would only work if Gordon’s new team declines his $20.9-million team option for the 2023-24 campaign. Thus, for the Rockets, keeping Gordon is the only certain way to have him as an option to pair with Harden.

Stay tuned! MacMahon’s complete podcast can be viewed below.