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Houston departure: January 14, 2021
Team’s playoff status: Eliminated in second round of Eastern Conference playoffs, 4-3 by Milwaukee
Statistics in playoffs: 20.2 points (47.2% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers), 8.6 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals in 35.7 minutes per game
It’s worth noting that Harden’s numbers were downwardly skewed due to a nagging hamstring injury, which caused him to miss four games during the second round and limited his effectiveness upon returning.
Even so, the bottom line is that Harden will turn 32 years old this offseason, and he’s still in pursuit of his first NBA title. Should that not occur with the Nets in 2022, it’s fair to wonder if Harden — who has a player option to become a free agent in the 2022 offseason — might then look at other opportunities. Considering Houston’s enormous haul of future draft assets from Brooklyn, it’s worth keeping a close eye on.