Tracy McGrady Reveals Why James Harden Won't Return To Rockets

Former Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady doesn't see James Harden returning to the team that jump-started his Hall of Fame resume.

Former Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden decided to accept his $35.6 million player option with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this offseason, but all signs have pointed to a trade away from the Sixers rather than a return.

The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Rockets were the favorites to receive the future Hall-of-Famer. However, trade talks have been quiet the last few weeks and the Rockets are likely to be eliminated from a Harden return.

Former Rockets shooting guard/small forward Tracy McGrady believes that Harden's return to Houston was practically impossible.

"It didn't make basketball sense," McGrady said on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. "I know James (Harden) wants to win a championship, but coming to Houston is not going to win you a championship."

Harden is one of the few players on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team that hasn't won a ring. The nearly 34-year-old (Aug. 26) is still among the league's best, but he missed the All-Star game for the first time since 2011-12 last season. 

Houston has a very bright future, but it's extremely unlikely that Harden can make them championship contenders in the upcoming season. Chances are his All-Star prowess will end over the next couple years and the Rockets probably won't be close enough to chase the Larry O'Brien Trophy then either.

The 76ers, on the other hand, have proven over the last couple of years that they are capable of competing for a ring. McGrady said that he was confused why Harden wanted to leave Philadelphia because it may be his best shot at winning one in his remaining years.

"Him getting out of Philly, I've said on record that I really don't understand it because you're on a championship-contending team playing alongside the MVP of last season (Joel Embiid). However, with him wanting to get out of that situation, there has to be something we don't know about because it doesn't make basketball sense."

This isn't the first time that Harden has wanted to leave a team, as he had drama with the Rockets in 2020 and the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.

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You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.

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