With trade season quickly approaching, fans and basketball pundits alike are exploring every possible option for teams and players across the NBA. The Houston Rockets are no exception.
The Rockets aren’t exactly terrible, but they’re also not where fans expected them to be at this point in the season. They currently sit seventh in the West at 22–24, ironically behind the Phoenix Suns.
It’s also no secret that the Rockets haven’t been at full strength since losing a quality point guard following Fred VanVleet’s injury. In that context, former NBA guard Jeff Teague floated a familiar name as a potential solution.
Teague believes the Rockets should bring back former MVP James Harden. Harden is putting together a solid season with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 25.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on 43 percent shooting from the field. The winning side hasn’t followed, though, with the Clippers currently sitting 11th in the West at 15–23.
“James Harden. Bring him back to the Rockets. The city misses him,” Teague said. “The Clippers are playing well, but Rockets got a chance on a chip.”
Jeff Teague says bring back James Harden to the Rockets
“Bring him back to the city they miss him. He playing good with the Clippers but the Rockets got a chance to win a chip”
(Via @club520podcast) pic.twitter.com/vj92VIZKIf
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 12, 2026
