The Rockets need to be done with this James Harden thing — one way or another. It’s time.
Their season is spiraling. They’ve lost four of their last five games and lost the last two, specifically, to the Lakers by a combined 35 points. And somehow, those games were much worse than the final scores would indicate.
Everything is in shambles. John Wall is begging for everyone to get on the same page and actually trying to lead the team. Meanwhile, James Harden has basically quit on the season. He literally said there’s nothing more he can do for the team.
It’s clear that this thing is done. And that’s exactly why the Rockets asked Harden to stay away from the team until a trade is complete, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Rockets are planning to keep Harden away until a trade is done — with front office weighing best final offers from Brooklyn and Philadelphia, sources tell @ramonashelburne and me. Process is moving quickly now. https://t.co/YDZkAKcG5d
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
The timing couldn’t be better. Things on the trade front are heating up, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick. The Nets and the 76ers are the two finalists the Rockets are looking at.
The Rockets are sifting through finalists — Nets and 76ers — for a James Harden deal that could culminate quickly, with Brooklyn preparing an offer of all its future first-round picks and pick swaps, per sources.
Story on @TheAthletic w/ @ShamsCharania:https://t.co/jF68AyNPEr— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) January 13, 2021
This is going to be a point of controversy as it was when the Pelicans sat Anthony Davis in the middle of the season. But this is absolutely the right thing to do.
Here’s why.