Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta remains hopeful that James Harden will win a championship with his team, he said in a CNBC interview (video link via Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston).
“James Harden, I have all the respect in the world for,” Fertitta said. “James Harden wants to win a ring during his period as a basketball player. … Hopefully, he’ll do it with the Houston Rockets.”
We have more the Harden drama:
- Harden is reportedly open to trade to another team besides his preferred destination, the Nets, with the Sixers among that group. A group of writers for The Athletic speculated on potential off-the-radar destinations and named the Clippers (with Paul George as part of the return package), Timberwolves (D’Angelo Russell) and Pelicans (Brandon Ingram or Lonzo Ball) as potential fits.
- Prior to Klay Thompson suffering a season-ending torn right Achilles’ tendon, the Warriors were among the teams who discussed the possibility of pursuing Harden, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. They mulled whether Harden could slide into Kevin Durant‘s former role but ultimately realized that the short-term gain wasn’t worth the long-term issues it would create, Poole continues. The Warriors felt Harden would be a poor fit in a culture that demands accountability and schemes that require collaboration, Poole adds.
- Coach Stephen Silas is relieved that Harden has arrived in Houston, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports. “We’re doing this day by day,” Silas said. “And just to have him in the building is good. Obviously, it wasn’t a good start to it. But that’s the NBA. The NBA isn’t going to be roses every day and there’s going to be issues and there’s going to be things that you’re going to have to work through as a group. That’s what we’re going to do. Him being here shows a level of commitment to what we have going.”
Unfortunately for Harden anyone who is a championship contender isn’t really in need of his services, or they don’t have the assets to get him. I feel for the guy. Hope he just gets to work on the Rockets no reason they can’t win some games including playoff games. It’s a weird season anything goes…
The one place I think could work is Miami. Riley, Spolestra, and Jimmy aren’t going to take any crap, they will hold him accountable.
I don’t think he’d be bad there, but with Dragic back and Herro hopefully getting better I don’t see how he really fits, or how it’d be worth Miami giving something up to get him.
You feel for him? How? He has literally been given just about everything he has asked for. He wanted a star to go with him, they got Dwight Howard. That didn’t do it for him (or Dwight) so they got Chris Paul. He didn’t want Chris Paul anymore, so they got his “best friend” Russell Westbrook. They didn’t like playing together, so they traded Westbrook. I’m a Rockets fan so I root for the dude, but how much do you really care about winning when after you lay a freaking egg in the playoffs against the Mavericks you go celebrate at a strip club?
This isn’t about Harden wanting to win, don’t be fooled. This is about them getting rid of the coach he liked, and then his GM walking out and them for once not catering to him and choosing nobody John Lucas as the head coach like he wanted. I like Harden, but do you really believe he gives a crap about winning? The dude cares about Harden. He wants his cash, he wants his stats, he wants to be the sole leader of a team and he doesn’t want to have to change for anyone. He wants to play his game and nothing else. Sure he’d like to win a chip, but that would just be the cherry on top. He’s good enough to win one with the right pieces, but he isn’t going to change his style drastically or play top tier defense to get there. That’s just not Harden.
The guy has worked extremely hard his whole life to get where he is, and he knows he has limited time to capitalize on it. There is a lot of pressure I could never relate to, so I give him the benefit of the doubt. He is a rare talent and with the glory comes a lot of baggage as well. It can’t be easy.
Wow, I totally respect being a fan of a basketball player, but let’s operate in reality a little bit. Harden absolutely worked incredibly hard to become great, but he also lives a lifestyle full of luxury and parties, happily and publicly celebrating his earned fortune. I’d say if it’s not easy, he at least really relishes in making it look that way.
Okay just so I’m clear the move is for anyone who doesn’t win a championship to sulk the entire offseason and take selfies of themselves frowning and crying? Something tells me that’s not going over great either. Maybe people just love to hate this guy because he’s good? Every story needs a villain and KAT isn’t quite ready yet…
No its not to sulk. Ever heard of Michael Jordan. Maybe if Harden committed himself to his team like Jordan did to beat the Pistons and trying to get better as a whole team, he would actually get results
Couldn’t agree more. Especially about the Lucas not being hired. Silas is great offensive mind, but is also going to preach defense (a Harden weakness) anyone saying he’s pushing for a title is wrong.
Title teams have continuity. He never gives a running mate more than a season to build. Why? Is it because he doesn’t want to share the lime light? Or because it’s easier to pass the blame?
Harden is a great player but not leader. Leaders look to keep it together and help themselves improve by helping their teammates improve
Did you ever think that maybe Hardens problem with the team is that D’Antoni made him commit to a team destined to fail regardless of the players because he wanted to run small ball? The only time that wasn’t the case is when Dwight was there. If you think that situation was good for either of them you weren’t watching. Harden player his ass of for Houston. Now he wants out. Deal with it
I don’t recall Harden being a hard- working player, just a clever and self-centered one. Someone who only did certain things. He signed a long contract and now he should deal with it.
@washington_bonercats… Wow someone finally talks sense in this site full of hatred & frustrated people who needs to get laid to release all that pent up rage!
Lol. “Deal with it”. Do you think I care about Harden leaving? I’m hoping he gets traded. I’m dealing with it just fine, pal. D’Antoni worked his system AROUND Harden. Remember Phoenix? 7 seconds or less?? Definitely not what the Rockets did. They allowed Harden to play iso and stand there dribbling for 20 seconds. He’s a great player, no doubt. He’s also not the most cancerous player out there by any stretch, but he isn’t the best role model/leader either. There’s a reason when players go to play with him they want out after. I never said the Dwight Howard experiment worked, or any of their experiments. I’m only stating that part of the reason they didn’t work is because of Harden and the way he plays and his lack of adjusting.
If all he cares about is money, why did he turn down the highest per year extension in the history of the NBA. I don’t even see why some of y’all follow the league, you clearly hate these guys for having the talent and Welsh you want.
Was that for me? Don’t see anyone mentioning money… or talent or Welsh. But “played his ass off”, no. Maybe Westbrook or Tucker or many others, but Harden is too cool for that. And he can wait a year to play the bad boy wants out.
@whoneedsfacts… Yep! You just nailed it with that comment, so many haters in here, so much negative energy & so much envy!
Rockets need to trade Harden to the Warriors. They can use another Steph Curry since KD left. Obviously, everyone is waiting to see what happens with Giannis, but Harden is next up. He may even go first if Antetokuonmpo keeps playing patty cake with the Bucks.
Tons of respect for this fan. I love a true go fan who, like me with my Warriors (I’m 41 and lived through 35 years of garbage before our last 5 years showed up) is die hard but REALISTIC! So sick of fans who can’t understand that these athletes are not Gods.. heck, they are not even role models anymore for the most part. Harden is a great individual player. He is not a leader of men, he refuses to change his way of play even though it has been proven over and over again that you cannot play for the foul in the playoffs like you do in the reg season. Also, he is only willing to play defense when he’s already at that half of the court. He sulks and barely moves when he misses a 3 that they did not call a foul because he threw himself into the defender as he shot it, while the other team is running down the other side of the court. Harden needs to watch tapes of Kobe Bryant. Kobe never stopped hustling and worked to make sure his opponents knew he was always going to make them work to get theirs. Team basketball is not his preference.
Why feel bad for him!?! He chooses to be so ball dominant and a ball hog, and he chooses to complain and consistently put the blame on everyone else.
Even though he hogs the ball, the Beard takes zero accountability for the Rockets playoff collapses, yet, somehow, when they win he expects all the glory and fame…
He’s consistently complaining and whining to the refs about calls, he flops and overexaggerrates fouls, and yet he’s the first one to always push off to create space..
Harden works extremely hard, he’s immensely talented on offense, and he finally started playing defense last year, BUT until he matures NO ONE is going to want to play with him longer than a year, IF AT ALL!!
Any mess he is in is his own doing. He wanted out of OKC, he got his wish wanting to be the number one for a team. Then, he somehow managed to run off one of the most loyal players in the NBA in Chris Paul, and now he’s ran off Westbrook as well…
If he wants to continue complaining, instead of doing it to the refs and his teammates next season, he really needs to look in the mirror..
After reading that, is anyone else really excited for the possibility of Harden being sent to Minnesota?
I’d rather he not..you know he wouldn’t be happy here either.
Well Minnesota fans might not be happy, but I meant that a lot of people might find it amusing if he was sent to a team, to put it nicely, not likely to contend for the title.
Personally, I would love it if he were traded for KAT and Ashton Hagans. That way I could get more of my Kentucky guys together. It really makes it hard to root for anyone when 21 out of the 30 teams have former Kentucky players on the roster.
Why would Minnesota trade for him? To amuse you like some circus side show? You’re really sick…
I more surprised to see Minnesota and New Orleans listed as contenders, but not Dallas? Is that because he knows he couldn’t upend Luka as head of the team?
Harden and KAT would be amusing
But Harden and Kyrie attempting to share the ball would be equally amusing IMO
Hell no……guy’s never happy. Keep him away.
Harden is Comparable to Paul George trade
George was traded to Clippers for
Gallo
Shai
5 Future Firsts
76ers have only two available Firsts
Need two young talents, one from third team
What incentive do 76ers have to trade for him? At the moment they have a pretty complete team and new management in place to make it work. Maybe at the trade deadline if the season is a doo doo show, but with covid it’s going to be difficult to judge effectively, if you ask me…
If Embiid plays only 57 games 76ers are likely to be 7-9 seed
With Harden 76ers would be more likely to play Conference Finals
@sillivany… if Embiid plays 57 games they will be real close to #1 in the east, as he is one of the best centers to ever play as a matter of fact!
Not comparable. No one knew about George until it was done. He had leverage, but Clippers needed him to get Kawahi as well.
There is no other star saying I’ll sign with you if you go get James. Add that Harden has publicly said trade me even if it’s not fair value take the best offer you get. All while he’s still under contract. He’s killed his value and the Rockets leverage with other teams.
Silas needs to shut up and put on the green beanie. Clippers send choker George for harden now….come on Ballmer!
A little surprised at the Athletics trade proposals I don’t think any of them are realistic.
PG13 can opt out next summer and clips have no future 1s why would HOU take that.
Wolves still won’t be contenders subbing harden for Dlo. I don’t see them being serious contenders in the west having Harden, KAT, Beasley and a rookie in edwards.
Pels are interesting in that they have the most assets to offer but I feel like their competitive timeline just doesn’t matchup with Hardens – he’s 10 years older than Zion and a ton of young players.
I still think ATL is the sleeper to watch, mentioned on earlier thread. Possible scenario could be Harden & Tucker for John Collins, huerter, reddish plus maybe hunter and picks.
Yeah totally agree on MIN and LAC
Like really? Houston is going to rebuild/re-tool around D’Angelo and/or Paul George? I guess they could but it would be a major bozo move.
Atlanta is interesting because Collins is a guy some people are really high on. I think if Philly is really out on moving Simmons then Collins might be Houston’s best option
There are a few teams that would make sense for a Harden trade IMO that I have not heard mentioned at all. One of such teams is the Bulls, with a package consisting of Coby White, Zach Lavine, Otto Porter, and Chandler Hutchinson, along with at least 3 1st round picks and maybe a couple pick swaps as well. That should be able to get it done if Chicago is indeed interested.
“”James Harden, I have all the respect in the world for,” Fertitta said. “James Harden wants to win a ring during his period as a basketball player.””
What a low bar to win respect. Everyone wants that, or more than one. Those two punks deserve each other.
Warriors— surprise! Harden doesn’t fit into a system; the system must bend to fit Harden. How long did it take Myers to figure that one out?— more than a few seconds?
Glad the warriors tapped out on harden. Talented dude but can’t imagine a worse personality fit. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s willing to sacrifice at his next stop after years of being in an offense built to have him with the ball nearly the whole time
Pelicans would be interesting,
Give you Lonzo Ball (needs a new extension), Brandon Ingram (just signed for the max) and let’s say a couple young guys (NAW and Hayes) for James Harden plus whatever it takes to match salaries.
That would basically mean whatever the Lakers gave your for ADs expiring contract your flipping for James Harden. I rate that.
However Philly seems to be the biggest player right now. Harden and Embiid would be a crazy good duo but I’d question the fit of everyone else. Wall and Simmons wouldn’t work, Tobias wouldn’t be very effective as a three getting no touches which makes his deal very painful and so on.
I’d say there needs to be a third team
Possibly
Sixers: James Harden, Harrison Barnes and PJ Tucker
Rockets: Ben Simmons, Mattise Thybulle, Jabari Parker and 3 first round picks
Kings: Tobias Harris and Terrance Ferguson
Sixers
1. Harden. Curry
2. Green. Maxey
3. Barnes
4. Tucker. Scott
5. Embiid
Plus Dwight Howard, Ryan Brokenhoff, Shake Milton and Korkmaz.
Rockets would have a good future plan with Simmons
Thank goodness Ingram can’t be traded now!
For the Pels if possible I would try and keep Lonzo – he could be the perfect backcourt mate to Harden if his shot continues to develop.
For the Philly thing I think if Houston gets Simmons then Wall is either stretched, bought out, or salary dumped next summer depending on how he plays this year. Doubt they imagine a future w/ those two
If Harden leaves Houston, he has to go to a team where he’s part of a “Big 3” and not a Big 2. He’s not good enough to win it with just one other star (like LeBron & AD did last year). If he goes to any other team besides Brooklyn, it will be more of the same. Harden averaging 30+ in the regular season and then inconsistent results in the playoffs leading to an early exit because he is playing better teams with better schemes to stop him. When that happens, there needs to be more than one star to bail him out (like KD & Kyrie). From a talent standpoint, Harden is more in line with a Bradley Beal then he is with the true best players in the NBA. He’s not a Top 5 player in the NBA and may not even be a Top 10 player. Top 5 scorer for sure, but Top 5 player not so much. Smart teams realize this and are not going to mortgage their future for a guy who has proven he cannot lead a good team to a championship even when he handpicked who he wanted to play with. He overrates himself and I hope he does get out of Houston, goes to a Big 2 team and proves that he’s not nearly as good as he thinks he is. I wonder if that would satisfy him or will he blame someone on his new team for not winning it all?
A championship with the Rockets? HAHAHAHHAHAHAAH
Send him to the knicks as an “F you”
Then the Durant to the Knicks rumors would start again, ha
The NBA is becoming a joke, along with most of the super stars. Back in the day you stayed with the team that drafted you through thick and thin. Now they just spit the dummy and demand trades and ruin franchise’s. These guys that don’t win chips fail to adapt to what is needed to win. Eg Westbrook needs to stop shooting and forget stat padding. Harden needs to be play partially off ball and allow the ball to swing. George needs to toughen up. Why sign massive contracts then demand to be traded. Do the right thing. Try to win with the team that hat drafted you. If can’t win keep trying. If that fails see your contract out and walk in free agency LeBron or KD style. Sign a contract, stiff, make them see the contract out. At least it clears out massive amounts of salary so the team that drafted you can get someone else. Instead of accepting bad contracts and scraps in a trade.
Dude not even the fans care about the franchises, so why on earth would the guys who make them great care?
You don’t know real fans lol. You’re an LA guy right. With all the smack you talked about Lakers. Cali owes the other cities for their franchises. I guess that why you would make that comment. Real franchises are Joe and loved from generation to generation. I hope I don’t have to name them for you. There are very loyal cities in the world of sports. Why it’s Big Business.
Harden doesn’t have the win by any means with your team mindset like Jordan did…
The 2 players that have stayed with the team that drafted them longest is Curry and Thompson.
I’m aware of that… But they got better and didn’t make excuses… They can get along with anyone…
KD could play well off the ball. Harden definitely couldn’t slide into his role.
#FreeTheBeard
Harden to MIN? No, thanks.
Harden sucks Houston has done everything and more for him. They deserve each other.