Report: Rockets would require ‘monstrous return’ to trade James Harden

“They’ve privately made it clear that they would require a monstrous return of players, draft picks and pick swaps,” ESPN reports.

With James Harden under contract for at least two more seasons, the Houston Rockets would require a “monstrous return” to consider trading him, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe, and Ramona Shelburne.

While Harden has yet to issue a formal trade request, he’s becoming increasingly intrigued by the Brooklyn Nets (and former teammate Kevin Durant) as a potential destination, according to ESPN’s report. However, even if he were to ask out, his leverage appears to be limited.

“If the Rockets did decide to engage in trade talks on Harden, they’ve privately made it clear that they would require a monstrous return of players, draft picks and pick swaps,” ESPN writes. With former GM Daryl Morey now in Philadelphia, Houston’s front office is now led by Rafael Stone, who was previously the No. 2 basketball operations executive.

Stone has consistently told teams that the Rockets plan to “run it back” with Harden this season, per ESPN. “The Rockets have seemed inclined to listen to offers on Harden, sources said, although that’s customary for most teams about most players in the league,” according to the report, which indicates that Houston and Brooklyn have yet to hold any talks.

It’s worth noting that Oklahoma City has the right to swap draft picks with Houston in the first round of the 2021 draft, which limits the potential incentive for the Rockets to begin any rebuilding process with the 2020-21 season. On the other hand, with full control of their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, a Harden trade (should he want to leave) could make more sense for the Rockets in the 2021 offseason.

Now 31 years old, Harden has played eight of his 11 NBA seasons with the Rockets, and he’s made the playoffs in all of them. “The Beard” has led the league in scoring in each of the last three seasons (34.3 points per game in 2019-20), and he’s the only NBA player to have been both an MVP finalist and an All-NBA First Team member in each of the last four seasons. Harden won the MVP award in 2018.

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