Should Dallas Mavericks worry about James Harden going back to the Rockets?

Should Dallas Mavericks worry about James Harden coming back to the Houston Rockets?

The Western Conference is already loaded. Zero of the top eight teams think they are falling out of the playoffs next season. The Dallas Mavericks believe they will be back and competing for a place in the top four. The Thunder, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers are eager to take a step forward. That is 12 teams for eight spots with two missing the Play-In Tournament before even mentioning Houston.

Adding another team to the already deep mix should add some worry for the Mavericks, but it will not overtake their anxiety about losing Luka Doncic if they do not improve. Dallas has to focus on their roster this summer. They need to add defense, depth, and a starting center. Without that, they will have much bigger problems on their hands.

Still, Harden’s return to the West and the Southwest Division should be a slight concern for Dallas. Put it at a two out of ten on the panic meter. The last thing they need is the Rockets getting back into contention, especially when no team in the conference plans on taking a step backward.

Will James Harden return to the Rocket this summer? Can the Dallas Mavericks improve their roster enough to get back into contention? Does the desperation in the West lead to some wild moves? Stay tuned to find out.