Following his recent trade request, the Houston Rockets have come to the realization that James Harden‘s mind is made up, as told by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on the podcast of colleague Brian Windhorst.
Harden is still under contract with the Rockets for at least two more seasons, which limits his leverage to force a transaction. However, even if a move isn’t imminent, the Rockets may need to begin some preparations.
“Harden doesn’t get to say where he’s traded and basically force the Rockets to take a package that is 60 cents on the dollar for a perennial MVP candidate,” MacMahon said. “I think what the Rockets are doing right now is they’re prepping for the post-Harden rebuild.”
The Rockets acquired two future first-round draft choices this week as part of trades involving veterans Robert Covington and Trevor Ariza.
Among MacMahon’s other podcast comments of note:
The sense I get from the Rockets is that their ambition, their goal, their hope is no longer about salvaging the relationship with James Harden and kind of getting him on board. There’s a realization, you know, his mind is made up. He wants out and there is a determination to say ‘Okay, we get it.’ This happens in the NBA, but just because James Harden wants out doesn’t mean he gets to dictate where and for what [he’s traded]. …
A package for Harden, and listen, this thing has accelerated a lot faster than I anticipated it would. These things are all fluid. We understand that. What the Rockets are saying is ‘We need a young franchise cornerstone type of player and a Jrue Holiday-like package of picks. That’s where conversations have to start.’ And do you see a young franchise cornerstone caliber player on the Nets? Do you consider Caris LeVert either young or a franchise cornerstone?
Harden has played in Houston for the last eight years. Over that span, they’re the only NBA team to make the playoffs in each season, and Harden has been an All-Star every time. The Rockets are also the only Western Conference squad to win at least one playoff series in four straight years, all with Harden as either the MVP or an MVP finalist.
While co-star Russell Westbrook has also requested a trade, MacMahon indicated that he believes the likely course is for the Rockets to keep Westbrook for the time being, in hopes that he could bolster his trade value by playing well during the 2020-21 season. MacMahon didn’t speculate on a potential timetable for any deal involving Harden.
Training camp for the 2020-21 NBA season will begin in home markets on Tuesday, Dec. 1. As of now, it remains to be seen whether Harden and Westbrook will be in Houston at that time.
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Rockets Have Given Up Keeping James Harden, Will Be Patient With Trade https://t.co/kxJUUex1d8
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 20, 2020