An ESPN report last week indicated James Harden has interest in returning to the Houston Rockets this offseason as a free agent depending on how the next few months plays out with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden was also a free agent last offseason and signed a two-year, $68.6 million deal with the Sixers that contains a player option for 23-24.

At the age of 33, Harden could continue signing shorter term deals in order to maintain flexibility.

"There are a lot of whispers around the league that he wants to continue cycling through one-plus-one kind of deals," said Zach Lowe.

James Harden is seriously considering returning to the Houston Rockets this offseason as a free agent if he decides against a new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Harden and his camp have been openly weighing a return to Houston in recent weeks and months.

Harden requested a trade from the Rockets before the 20-21 season.

Harden signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Sixers, including a player option for 2023-2024 that allows him to re-enter free agency this summer. 

Harden remains drawn to the community, lifestyle and family in Houston. 

The Houston front office would have to evaluate how bringing back Harden would impact their young core of talent of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Kevin Porter Jr. 

The Houston Rockets are "more inclined" to trade Eric Gordon this season than in the past two years, sources told Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Gordon is in the final year of his guaranteed contract, with a team option for next season.

The Rockets are looking for a future first-round pick or a young player for Gordon instead of a late first in the upcoming draft.

The team is also looking to hold onto K.J. Martin, Tari Eason, and Jae'Sean Tate.

The New York Knicks have been among the most active teams in trade talks. New York sought a deal prior to December 9, which would have given them the ability to re-aggregate any acquired player in a subsequent deal ahead of the February 9 trade deadline.

While no deal was made, the Knicks have offered various combinations of Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Cam Reddish and Immanuel Quickley to other teams. Despite Reddish saying he hasn't asked for a trade, his representatives are believed to be working with New York on finding the swingman a new team.

The Knicks also made a run at Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets. New York wasn't willing to meet Houston's asking price of a first-round pick, which the Rockets have stuck to for well over a year.

The Houston Rockets have discussed an Eric Gordon trade with approximately six teams, sources tell the Houston Chronicle.

The Phoenix Suns are one of the teams with known interest in Gordon.

Gordon is an attractive trade target due to his floor spacing and defensive positional versatility. Gordon is earning $19.6 million this season. Gordon's contract is non-guaranteed for the 23-24 season, but the Rockets consider him signed for next season given the affordability of the number.

The Rockets are seeking a first round pick for Gordon.

The Phoenix Suns recently engaged in three-team trade talks that would have resulted in Jae Crowder to the Milwaukee Bucks, four second round picks from the Bucks and players to the Houston Rockets, and Eric Gordon and/or Kenyon Martin Jr. to the Suns.

The hold up in the trade was that the Rockets are seeking a first round pick each for Gordon and Martin rather than four second rounders. The Rockets have received interest on Gordon from several contending teams. Houston has been less willing to entertain trading Martin, who is having a breakout third season.

The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are also interested in Crowder. 

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly interested in the Houston Rockets' Kenyon Martin Jr. and Eric Gordon, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Gordon was linked with a potential trade involving Jae Crowder earlier this month. 

The team are also said to be interested in Kyle Kuzma, though do not want to commit to any long-term deals until a new ownership group is in place. 

Venture capital investors made a $3 billion bid to buy the Suns and Mercury over the weekend. 

The Houston Rockets could participate in a multi-team trade at some point this season involving Eric Gordon. The Rockets have shopped Gordon, who is signed through 23-24, in trade scenarios for some time now.

An inevitable Jae Crowder trade with the Phoenix Suns is one area where the Rockets could participate in a three-team scenario. 

"Obviously, there were reports they were close to a [Jae Crowder] deal a couple weeks ago," said Zach Lowe on his podcast. "It didn't happen. Allegedly, it was a three-team deal. I've heard all sorts of different intel.

"One team I would keep an eye on in any Crowder trade, or any trade like that, butting in is the Rockets with Eric Gordon. Just keep an eye on it. I'm not saying he would be going to any specific place. I'm just saying keep an eye on it."