Rockets don’t feel obligated to trade James Harden to Nets, per ESPN

The Rockets are demanding a “proven, young star” as a centerpiece of any Harden trade, along with a massive package of draft picks.

Despite franchise centerpiece James Harden listing the Brooklyn Nets as his preferred trade destination, the Houston Rockets do not feel obligated to send him there, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Instead, with the 31-year-old under contract for at least two more seasons, the Rockets are using that secure status to canvass the entire NBA in search of the best trade package — if they deal him at all.

Per MacMahon: “The Rockets are demanding an especially steep return for Harden, a perennial MVP candidate who has led the NBA in scoring the last three seasons: a proven, young star as a centerpiece along with a massive picks package, according to sources.”

Despite trade requests by both Harden and co-star Russell Westbrook, the Rockets are “willing to get uncomfortable” by keeping them in Houston for the 2020-21 season, according to MacMahon’s report.

Though Westbrook’s contract is nearly identical to that of Harden, Houston understands that Harden — as an MVP finalist in 2020 and an All-NBA First Team member — will command more on the trade market than Westbrook would. However, the Rockets still aren’t willing to move Westbrook without assets such as young talent or first-round draft picks.

Per MacMahon, the Rockets believe that Westbrook could improve his trade value with a healthy start to the 2020-21 season. In that scenario, the 32-year-old would presumably post better results than he did after suffering a quad injury just before the 2020 playoffs.

Training camps for the 2020-21 league year are set to open on Tuesday, Dec. 1. As of Tuesday night, it sounds as if one or both of Houston’s former MVPs could still be reporting to Toyota Center once camp begins.

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