The Rockets aren’t pleased with their 3-5 start to the 2020-21 regular season, but there are clearly extenuating circumstances. Most notably, as superstar guard James Harden alluded to on Saturday, Houston has yet to have its full roster due to an assortment of injuries and quarantines.
When that happens, the promising starts by high-profile newcomers John Wall and Christian Wood could offer optimism for things to turn around. In turn, that might make the 31-year-old Harden — who reportedly asked for a trade in this recent offseason, in search of a better opportunity to win — more willing to stay. Harden can’t become a free agent until the NBA’s 2022 offseason at the earliest, but his happiness in the locker room is among the many variables that GM Rafael Stone must consider in evaluating whether a trade is the right move for the Rockets.
According to national NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, front office executives with other teams say Houston is becoming more confident that Harden will be content to stick around — at least for the remainder of this season. From Monday, his latest report:
Though James Harden captured the entire league’s focus after demanding a trade, league sources question general manager Rafael Stone’s willingness to deal him this season. The Rockets have shown promise amid a 3-5 start —John Wall resembles his pre-injury self, Christian Wood is posting All-Star numbers, and even role players like Jae’Sean Tate are excelling off the bench.
Front office executives around the NBA say Houston is growing more confident that Harden will be content to stick around at least through the rest of the season. Sources say Harden still prefers to be dealt, and losses like Sunday’s 18-point defeat to the Lakers won’t help Houston’s case. But Harden himself expressed optimism for Houston’s future on Saturday, telling reporters, “As long as we continue to find chemistry, we have a chance to do something special.”
Harden still wants a trade, but seeing how things play out in Houston has undeniable appeal. They’re building chemistry in Stephen Silas’s offensive system, which features more movement than the Rockets were accustomed to under Mike D’Antoni. Harden and Wood are already clicking in the pick-and-roll. Harden and Wall are still finding a rhythm together, but early returns are encouraging.
Could Bradley Beal end up the next star traded, not James Harden?
New @ringer story breaking down the state of blockbuster trade possibilities, whether the Rockets can be good enough to keep Harden happy, and if Beal and the Wizards can save their season: https://t.co/IqIfS3KeHA
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 11, 2021
At some point, for Harden to be convinced, the “early returns” from individuals like Wall and Wood likely need to translate into a better win-loss record. But there’s certainly hope that it could come soon. At the moment, the only expected rotation player to be absent is forward Danuel House Jr. (back spasms), and he’s expected to return soon.
Moreover, after Tuesday’s rematch with the defending champion Lakers, four of Houston’s next five games are against the Spurs (twice), Bulls, and Pistons. Assuming health, Houston should be favored in all of those contests, so they could take advantage of a softer schedule relative to their recent losses against the Lakers, Pacers, and Mavericks.
The trade deadline for the 2020-21 season isn’t until March 25, so there’s plenty of time for the pendulum to swing the other direction. But for now, it seems the momentum is on the side of the Rockets retaining their perennial All-Star and MVP finalist until at least the offseason.
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