The Rockets appear set to open the regular season with James Harden on their roster, and while the star guard has reportedly vowed to be professional as he waits for the team to satisfy his trade request, the environment around the team has been tense at times in recent days, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Harden had multiple verbal confrontations with teammates during practices on Sunday and Monday, reports Charania. Sources tell The Athletic that one of those confrontations saw Harden throw a basketball at Jae’Sean Tate after the two had a “heated exchange.”
Charania acknowledges that tense practice interactions between teammates aren’t necessarily uncommon in competitive environments. However, he says some people around the franchise view the confrontations as signaling an “uncharacteristic level of frustration” for Harden, who is typically more calm and laid back.
While Charania compares the situation to Jimmy Butler‘s final weeks in Minnesota, he notes that there are a number of differences between the two situations — Butler was in a contract year, which gave him added leverage, and has a more fiery, volatile personality than Harden. The Rockets are hoping to avoid that sort of volatility as they wait out the trade market and focus on finding a deal that meets their asking price, says Charania.
For what it’s worth, Charania writes that sources have described Harden as “engaged and encouraging” with teammates during games so far this month.
The Rockets will open their regular season by hosting the Thunder on Wednesday night.
Rockets, lower the asking price and just trade him already. You can still get a decent return if you lower the asking price a bit.
Um no. Why would they do that? They don’t need to trade him at all unless they get what they feel is Harden’s value.
Why would they lower their asking price? Maybe because Harden is apparently bad for the team in general and they can’t get to the Finals with him anyway. It seems it is in their best interest to just get rid of him, and in order to do that they probably have to lower their asking price. It also seems Harden isn’t helping that matter much, either.
It isn’t Harden’s job to help HOU getting the most for him, his job is doing everything possible, however outrageous, to force the team to do the decent thing & trade him!
#FreeTheBeard
Why would they do that?! These players are players, they are not owners or business men. They don’t control their outcome; Houston shouldn’t give in until they get everything they want. There is No URGENCY.
Houston fans are reluctant to support trading Harden for anything less than full value considering they laughingstock this city became after “lowering the price” on Clowney and Hopkins in bad trades.
Exactly. Bad for moral and discipline. There have to be SOPs or better sportsmanship guidance other than contracts some of these prima-donna players obviously don’t quite follow. Ah please have him get rid of that horrible beard! Good lord in heaven!
His asking price will go down further if he keeps being a pain in the neck. Rockets should just get what they can for him and be done. Holding out for that great trade package will be a mistake.
Why should they? Someone will pay what they want eventually. Harden is still going to be top 5 in scoring and a top player. He has zero leverage and is acting like a huge ass hat.
100% agree. Harden has no leverage at all against them.
What if he refuses to play like AD did? His value goes down. What if he gives 50% effort his value goes down. Its a big gamble to say he will still put up numbers.
AD didn’t refuse to play.. the pelicans held him out of games due to fear of injury.
Davis didn’t refuse to play. The team kept him out to avoid injury in order to make sure they got full value for him. It wasn’t AD’s choice at all, and that is common knowledge among people who are interested in the truth.
Hello Simmons & Thybulle…
I’m hoping that philly stays as far away from harden as possible. Send him to Brooklyn and let’s all get our popcorn ready
Hello reality! That trade is not gonna happen. Simmons is not on the trading block.
Do you really believe morey? He said he wouldn’t trade cp3 and traded him 2 days later for westbrook….simmons and picks will be going to rockets sorry to burst your bubble
I believe in common sense and reality. Harden DOES NOT FIT with the current Sixers’ roster (minus Simmons).
Pretty sure Harden fits with a bunch of shooters pretty well
The Rockets need to drop the idea that they’re going to get a player at Ben Simmons’s level back for Harden, and trade him for his actual value given his age, playstyle, and contract.
In the meantime, if this is how Harden is behaving, then the team needs to consider suspending him without pay.
I’m not sure I understand why he gets to pick which team he gets traded to. Send him to Sacramento.
He doesn’t get to pick, but considering he has an opt out clause it would be beneficial to the return package to send him where he wants to go. Why would Sacramento meet Houston’s asking price for a guy who can opt out after next season without assurances that he wants to be there
I think they can get a deal done with the Bulls. Porter, Levine and a draft pick or two for Harden and Tucker.
That’s about the right package. Or something centered around Tobias Harris with the Sixers.
Rockets probably just hoping things look like they’re not working in Brooklyn or Philly so they’ll feel the need to meet Houston’s asking price. I’m guessing he gets moved in a few weeks
I would laugh so hard if one of his teammates knocked his fat ass out in practice.
I’m sure J-Tate could do that.
It’s just going to get worse, everyone showing how firm they are, Tate playing his game fighting for a job anyway.
New Texas posters are showing on this page how Texas fans are not going to take any bah from Harden even as regular posters say get a trade over with.
Is simple is Harden dosent want to play there trade ask for lower price, or the team will have a lot of inside problems. Time to rebuild in Houston or at the end of the season will be a total disaster.
Rockets can’t rebuild because they have traded 4 Firsts next 6 years 2021-2026
They got two Firsts back but lottery protected
Rockets have no choice but trade for proven stars and massive first round picks
If a team don’t have Massive, Rockets are willing to take 2 Firsts from a bad team – 3 way deal
They’re not getting two 1sts from a rebuilding team no matter where Harden’s going. Those are the most valuable assets in the NBA.
Dude the Pels got like 5 first round picks for JRUE HOLIDAY two weeks ago
Pretty sure Houston can get a few picks for Harden
Miami you on the other line lol he’s gonna be gone asap
Mountain out of a molehill. Harden knows how to send a message. Throwing a basketball at a bench player isn’t a chess move. It’s just guys playing hard.
It matters whether the dude he threw the ball at is a starter or not? Tell you what, the guy I want from the Rockets ain’t Harden. It’s the dude that made him throw the ball. That dude has a spine.
Heat are willing to package Herro Robinson Nunn and 2027 First
Rockets hang up the phone
Two requirements
Proven
Massive
Two preferences you mean
No comment from the Harden/rockets fan guy? Shocking… He’s probably googling another screen name for this site. Now then…the rox have let this get way out of hand. Man up and trade the Beard! It isn’t gonna get any better until they do!
houston(m is thinking… {I sense a problem… Whose fault is it… oh yeah they all hate us here. At least we got that long guy they weren’t sure about.}
Wait, that’s my term, long guy. C.Wood.
Harden is a selfish ball hog, i wouldn’t take him for free
I’m not a new poster. I just don’t post often. With that said the Rockets are not going to take .50 on dollar for Harden as they are a top 5 team in the West. if Wall, Wood, and Cousins stay healthy they will be hosting a 1st round series. They look damn good in the preseason. Yes, Harden will drop to probably the 8th-10th best scorer in the league under Silas’ system and I think that is what is upsetting him more than anything. He has run the team since he got here from OKC and that has changed. He will either grow up and get over it or continue to lose respect around the league. The book is out on him and he needs to mature, which is why teams aren’t lining up to trade an established young star and picks for the leagues top scorer.
#FreeTheBeard
At this point, it is no surprise that Harden is, (reportedly), not getting along with his teammates. As others have stated, his value can only go down as a result. Personally, I hope the Rockets keep the guy and continue to fail in the playoffs. If he is turning his teammates against him, that is just icing on the cake.
Wait Harden threw a basketball at someone? Maybe he is learning to pass lol
Strange how only 6 active players have more career assists than Harden.
And all of those guys are true PG’s except LeBron. Funny thing is, the only season that Harden was his team’s starting PG he led the league with 11.2 APG in 2017 (the year Westbrook stole the MVP from him).
Last year Westbrook was their starting PG, and the two before that it was injury-prone Chris Paul. Jeremy Lin was the Rockets PG the first year Harden was there, and the next 4 seasons it was Beverley.
Has it occurred to anyone that this is actually a good thing? Harden is finally showing more emotion and calling out his teammates when they screw up and he gets criticized for it by the media. So damned typical. Westbrook does this all the time and it’s accepted as nothing out of the ordinary, without hesitation.
Please tell me why Harden is always held to a higher standard? Anyone?
Because of YOU. YOU have put him up on a pedestal and made 99% of the commenters on here hate him. That, is why.
Some of the comments here visavis Beard are getting increasingly delusional – if I didn’t know any better I would think it was Eric Gordon on the block (insert “At least Gordon shows up to camp!” comment here)