James Harden returning to the Rockets in free agency has been a buzzy item among NBA rumors in recent weeks, but is it all a leverage ploy for the 76ers?

One of the biggest NBA rumors concerning free agency before we've even reached the offseason has been regarding former MVP and beard icon James Harden and his future in the league. Specifically, there has been a ton of buzz from numerous sources that have stated that Harden is open to a return to the Houston Rockets this offseason.

Is that really the case, though? One NBA insider doesn't seem to be buying it.

Appearing on PTI, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst was asked by Tony Kornheiser if he believed that Harden was actually interested in returning to Houston or if it was, instead, leverage to negotiate with the Philadelphia 76ers. Windhorst, in typical fashion, played a bit coy on the matter, saying that the rest of the NBA was wondering the same thing.

Windhorst did note, however, that the 76ers haven't "shown an appetite to give Harden the max" before speculating that the "hard rumor" about Harden returning to the Rockets is perhaps being pushed "a little too hard" to the point that it reads like the free agent trying to coax Philadelphia into giving him a max contract.

NBA Rumors: James Harden could be leveraging Rockets against 76ers

From the moment that rumors began circulating about Harden's possible return to the Rockets, it's felt strange that the guard, who will be 34 years old at the start of next season, would want to join a team that it did not end well with in his previous stint and that is also seemingly a long way from contention — especially when it would mean leaving playing with current NBA MVP Joel Embiid and a more readymade situation to compete.

Because of that, Windhorst noting that this could be a leverage play by Harden and his camp doesn't seem out of left field in the slightest. Frankly, it makes a lot more sense than the possible return to Houston.

We should've known that James Harden hitting free agency would get a little hectic, but it's crazy that we're already here before we've even crowned an NBA champion.

For now, though, we'll have to sit back and see if the reason that the Harden-to-Rockets narrative is being pushed so hard is because it's legitimate or, as is being suggested now, if it's all to try and get the Sixers to budge on giving the veteran star more money.