The dream didn’t last long, as reports surfaced before the start of free agency that the Rockets were planning to heavily pursue Fred VanVleet to be the franchise’s next floor general, instead of The Beard.ĮSPN’s Stephen A. Fans that had suffered through three years of dismal play became excited about the possibility of the home-grown superstar lifting the team back into contention. James Harden's affinity for the Houston Rockets led to a endless dosage of speculation regarding his potential return to the franchise throughout the 2022-23 season.