It appears James Harden is at least playing nice in Houston, for now, with Rockets head coach Stephen Silas announcing on Monday the 2018 MVP would play in Tuesday’s preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. However, Harden still reportedly wants out of Houston.
While Brooklyn remains one of Harden’s top-two landing spots, the Nets and Rockets appear to be very far apart on a deal — same goes for Houston’s trade talks with the Philadelphia 76ers. While some have proposed Brooklyn should trade Kyrie Irving, the Nets have no interest in that — nor have the Rockets asked about the point guard’s availability.
Irving weighed in on the Harden-to-Brooklyn rumors during his first media availability of 2020-21:
“That part of our business is going to be what it is,” Irving said. “There’s no control that we have as players to at least manage what’s being said in terms of rumor mills and what’s being reported. Let’s just leave it at that.
“James is a great player, and we wish him well. I just him to be happy and be secure in who he is as a man first and then as a basketball player — whatever happens between those conversations between them.”
Irving continued:
“With us, we’re focused on us,” he said. “I [have] played with so many great players in this league, and we all want to play with one another. Now we’ve just got to focus and zero in on what’s out here on our floor.”
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