James Harden may have played his last game with the Houston Rockets.
Following a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Harden all but confirmed that was his final game with the Rockets, calling his situation with the organization crazy and one that can’t be fixed.
“We’re just not good enough,” Harden said. “Chemistry, talent-wise, just everything, and it was clear these last few games. From the beginning of the game, they were aggressive, a championship team, obviously, and one of the best teams we have in this league. I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. This situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed.”
Of course, Harden requested to be traded from the Rockets over the offseason and eventually reported to training camp a week late. Following his comments on Tuesday, the Rockets reportedly decided to keep Harden away from the team until a trade can be found. The organization has reportedly settled on trading Harden to either the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers.
On Wednesday, Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that the Rockets were pursuing a trade package with the Sixers centered on Ben Simmons and rookie Tyrese Maxey. The organization has reportedly prioritized completing a trade on Wednesday in order to prevent further damage to the team following the trade request from Harden.
The Rockets are pursuing a trade package from the 76ers that would be headlined by Ben Simmons and Tyrese Maxey, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 13, 2021
Maxey has emerged as a promising young player with the Sixers this season, and would be a key piece of a potential trade. The 21st overall pick is fourth in scoring among all rookies, averaging 11 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 12 games played.
The situation between Harden and the Rockets appears to have finally reached its breaking point with both sides looking to move on as quickly as possible. The organization could find a resolution as soon as Wednesday should a trade materialize.
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