Rockets Passed On James Harden Reunion Due To Concerns On How He'd Impact Young Core

Despite mutual interest and a clear need at point guard following Fred VanVleet's torn ACL, the Houston Rockets declined to pursue a reunion with James Harden this season, prioritizing the development of their young core over a short-term fix, sources told ESPN. Harden's representatives contacted Houston after the Los Angeles Clippers stumbled to a 6-21 start, gauging interest in a potential return to the franchise that originally built around him before trading him to the Brooklyn Nets in Janu...