Mavericks, Rockets interested in offering a monster deal to Harden

League sources say the Mavericks, located in the fifth-biggest TV market, and the Rockets, in the 10th biggest, are already interested in offering a monster deal to Harden. Not to mention that his mother lives in Phoenix, near Harden's alma mater. The Suns might decide to carve out extra millions to bring Harden home.

Harden is probably also ripe for a four-year, $60ish million deal, around the size of the one free agent shooting guard Eric Gordon inked this summer to stay with the Hornets. Or he could stay in OKC with his teammates, which sounds pretty good. "We hang out all the time," Harden says. "Off the court, we're at someone's house playing video games, relaxing, talking and enjoying each other's company. It's rare that you find that in this league." At the Olympics, he, Durant and Westbrook baffled their teammates with a dialect only they share. Andre Iguodala recently told ESPN.com: "I don't know what they're talking about. Their words mean like the opposite thing."