The Houston Rockets are now the odds-on favorites to add James Harden this offseason, which would reunite the shooting guard with the team where he became a star.
Charles Barkley has heard those reunion rumors, and in a recent interview with Brad Cesmat of Sports360AZ, called Harden a “runaway bride” for his penchant to team-hop in hopes of finding a better setup.
“He’s like the runaway bride,” Barkley said. “Yeah, I tried it, but I’m out of here.”
Harden began his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, rose to prominence with the Houston Rockets and has since requested trades that have landed him with the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Rockets have -125 odds to add Harden this offseason, per DraftKings, as he is expected to decline his player option for next season and enter unrestricted free agency. Houston finished 22-60 last year as it has spent the past few seasons rebuilding following Harden’s departure.
They have the No. 4 pick in the draft, which wasn’t a great result in Tuesday night’s draft lottery, but it will still allow them to add another talented young piece.
Barkley doesn’t get why the Rockets would want Harden back as he begins to enter the twilight of his career.
“You’ve got a bunch of young guys and the rumor is he wants to go back to Houston,” Barkley told Cesmat. “I’m like, ‘Why would Houston do that? Pay an aging star to go with all of those young kids?’”
The Philadelphia 76ers have the second-best odds to have Harden next season at +350, as the oddsmakers believe a return to Philly is in play.
The team just fired coach Doc Rivers and a new hire could sway Harden if he likes the move. Barkley told Cesmat remaining with the 76ers seems likes Harden’s top option.
“I think for James, probably being in Philly might be his best scenario,” Barkley said. “He’s got an MVP candidate in Joel (Embiid). (Tyrese) Maxey is coming along. They’ve got Tobias Harris. It’s going to be very interesting with what happens with that whole Harden situation.”
The Phoenix Suns have the third-best odds to get Harden, where he would team with former teammate Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Suns have the fourth-best odds to win next year’s championship at DraftKings and the addition of another star could improve those chances.
Here is the full list of next team odds for James Harden:
- Houston Rockets -125
- Philadelphia 76ers +350
- Phoenix Suns +750
- Los Angeles Clippers +1200
- Los Angeles Lakers +1800
- Dallas Mavericks +2200
- Miami Heat +2500
- Chicago Bulls +3500
- Boston Celtics +3500
- Atlanta Hawks +3500
- San Antonio Spurs +4000
- New York Knicks +4000
- New Orleans Pelicans +4000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +4000
- Washington Wizards +5000
- Toronto Raptors +5000
- Portland Trail Blazers +5000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +5000
- Orlando Magic +5000
- Milwaukee Bucks +5000
- Memphis Grizzlies +5000
- Golden State Warriors +5000
- Brooklyn Nets +5000
- Utah Jazz +7500
- Sacramento Kings +7500
- Indiana Pacers +7500
- Detroit Pistons +7500
- Denver Nuggets +7500
- Cleveland Cavaliers +7500
- Charlotte Hornets +7500
