As trade talks intensify, Rockets keeping James Harden away from team

“We felt that it was best for the group and best for James not to come to practice,” Stephen Silas said of Rockets star James Harden.

In the wake of Tuesday’s postgame outburst and a report of trade talks picking up, the Houston Rockets practiced without superstar James Harden on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

“We felt it was best for James and best for the group for James to not come to practice today,” Silas said after Wednesday’s practice. Houston (3-6) travels to San Antonio (6-5) later in the day for Thursday night’s game, likely without their team leader in points and assists.

“There has to be some sort of resolution, whether it’s a complete buy-in at some level, or some other way to get it taken care of,” said Silas, presumably alluding to the potential of trading Harden elsewhere.

Silas referenced going through a “sleepless night” after Tuesday’s outburst, and he said he spoke with Harden earlier Wednesday — though he said the details of that conversation would remain confidential.

Silas did say that he disagreed with Harden’s postgame assessment that the Rockets “just aren’t good enough.”

“That’s hard to hear, especially when you don’t believe it and you know it not to be true,” Silas said at Wednesday’s practice.”

Silas noted that the team remains in communication with Harden and hopes to have an answer soon regarding his status with the team. At this point, all signs point to a trade, likely to Brooklyn or Philadelphia.

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