James Harden Rumors | Hoops Rumors

New York Notes: Thibodeau, Walker, Harden, Irving

December 6th, 2021 at 11:56am CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has already removed Kemba Walker from his rotation and more changes could be coming after Saturday’s embarrassing loss, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Thibodeau gave his players the day off Sunday to reflect on their recent downturn, and Popper suggests that the coach may also have needed time away to study his lineups and see how he can improve them.

“The thing is, if we’re not performing well, look, there may be more changes coming,” Thibodeau said. “That’s the thing . . . I like our group, I like the way they approach it. We all put our stuff together. We’ve got to focus together and we’ve got to work our way out of it together. That’s the way it is.”

The Knicks are starting a three-game road trip and Thibodeau told reporters that the changes may begin with Tuesday’s game in San Antonio, tweets Barbara Barker of Newsday. The most troubling concern, according to Popper, is that the team has lost the identity it had last season when it finished fourth in the East.

There’s more from New York City:

Walker spoke to reporters today for the first time since the demotion (video link from SNY.tv). He admitted being surprised by the decision, but said he won’t become a negative influence in the locker room. “At the end of the day, there are some young guys here who look up to me,” Walker said. “Maybe I can be a role model. I love being around my teammates and I’m going to cheer them on until I can’t anymore.”
The Knicks’ analytics department had an influential role in the signing of Walker, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Berman considers it to be a curious decision because Walker’s numbers on pick-and-roll efficiency, isolation efficiency and pull-up shooting last season were his worst of the past five years.
James Harden ranks second in the league in assists after taking over the Nets‘ playmaking duties, but his shooting woes continued in Saturday’s loss to the Bulls, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. Harden shot just 5-of-21 from the field and is at a career-worst 40.3% through the first 23 games of the season. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer recommends that Harden work on developing a mid-range game.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has strengthened the city’s vaccine mandate, which makes it less likely that Kyrie Irving will play for the Nets this season, tweets Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

Nets Notes: Irving, Harden, Thomas, Durant

December 2nd, 2021 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

An ESPN report in October indicated that the Nets were willing to take calls from teams asking about Kyrie Irving, but weren’t making calls themselves. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, Brooklyn has maintained that approach during the past several weeks. Even though the Nets are willing to listen to inquiries on Irving, his trade value is down at this point due to his season-long absence, so making a deal may not be in the team’s best interest.

Begley also follows up on reports from The Athletic and The Philadelphia Inquirer stating that James Harden is among the Sixers‘ trade targets. Sources tell Begley that even before those reports surfaced, people with the Nets organization were aware that Philadelphia “loomed as a potential suitor” for Harden.

As we’ve noted before, the Nets are extremely unlikely to consider a Harden trade during the season, and all indications are that he wants to remain in Brooklyn going forward. But he does have the ability to opt out in 2022, so if the Nets’ season turns south, the Sixers could emerge as a more viable threat.

Here’s more on the Nets:

With Harden off to an up-and-down start this season, Michael Pina of SI.com attempts to determine whether the 32-year-old’s inconsistency can be attributed more to an early-season slump or the start of a career decline. With Harden up for another maximum-salary contract in 2022, he’ll be highly motivated to recapture his All-NBA form.
Joe Harris‘ ankle injury pushed rookie Cameron Thomas further up the depth chart, but the Nets don’t want to have him take on a bigger role until he’s fully ready for it, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who says the organization is happy with Thomas’ development so far. “If his role grows it’s more on his continued development than on our necessity, because that’s too much of a burden to throw at him,” head coach Steve Nash said.
Two years removed from his Achilles tear, Kevin Durant is averaging 35.8 minutes per game, his highest mark since his Oklahoma City days. As Nash acknowledges, the team would prefer not to play Durant that much going forward. “It’s not ideal to have him have such a burden,” the Nets’ head coach said, per Lewis. “But I don’t know what options we have other than to play him less and lose more. He’s a great player, and we’re down a great player (Irving) and a really good player (Harris) and a few others. So I don’t know if we have the luxury right now.”
For his part, Durant said he feels good and would love to play all 48 minutes every night if the Nets would let him, as Lewis relays. “If I can convince coach to play me the whole second half sometimes and put me in earlier in quarters, I’m gonna do it,” the former MVP said. “It don’t matter. My basketball life is not that long, so I’m gonna get the most out of it.”

And-Ones: 2022 Free Agents, M. Richardson, Capitanes

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:48am CST by Luke Adams

In his early look at 2022’s top free agents, John Hollinger of The Athletic ranks Bulls guard Zach LaVine as the No. 1 player in next year’s class, ahead of stars like Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Nets guard James Harden. As Hollinger explains, LaVine will be just 27 years old when he reaches free agency, which means his next contract is a good bet to cover his prime years. Beal will be 29 and Harden will be entering his age-33 season, so the final seasons of long-term deals would be a little riskier in those cases — especially for Harden.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former NBA first-round pick Malachi Richardson is continuing his professional career in Poland, having signed with King Wilki Morskie Szczecin, according to the team. The 22nd overall pick in the 2016 draft, Richardson hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2018/19 season and most recently suited up in Italy.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mexico City Capitanes’ first season in the NBA G League has them based out of an apartment complex in Fort Worth, Texas without a home arena. Scott Cacciola of The New York Times takes a closer look at an unusual start for the G League’s first Mexican franchise, which won’t actually play in Mexico in 2021/22.
With the Lakers and Knicks set to face one another in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Sopan Deb of The New York Times explores why Sportico and Forbes have given both teams valuations north of $5 billion and why the value of a big-market franchise like the Lakers or Knicks isn’t really dependent on whether or not they’re winning.

Atlantic Notes: Siakam, Fournier, Durant, Harden

November 20th, 2021 at 10:51am CST by Dana Gauruder

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam erupted for 32 points and eight rebounds against Sacramento on Friday, his sixth game after recovering from shoulder surgery. Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca tweets that Siakam, who bounced back from a four-point game against Utah, is still trying to gain a rhythm.

“Last game I felt like I was running in mud the whole game,” Siakam said. “It’s just waking up every day continuing to push forward knowing it’s going to be tough, but once I get that rhythm and my legs under me I know what I can do, and I have to focus on that.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Evan Fournier, the Knicks’ major sign-and-trade acquisition this summer, hasn’t been playing in fourth quarters lately and it’s been an adjustment for the swingman, Mark Sanchez of the New York Post writes. “I think the situation right now is I don’t know how many minutes I’m going to play, so I have to have the mindset of: If I’m going to play 20 minutes, then just come out the gate with extreme energy,” he said. “Being very alert. Being ultra-aggressive. And trying to have an impact.”
Kevin Durant missed his first game of the season on Friday due to a shoulder ailment. The Nets are trying to figure out how much to play Durant and James Harden during the regular season without wearing them out prior to the postseason, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I think that we definitely are going to look for our spots to protect them,” Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said. “We just have to be very strategic. We’re a new team trying to find itself and trying to form that identity. Those guys are super-competitive, so they want to play. It’s a tricky balance.”
The league’s crackdown on offensive moves in which players move into defender’s bodies to draw fouls has affected Harden. He’s going to the line less and committing more turnovers, Sanchez notes. The Nets star says he’s still getting used to the new parameters. “We’re in a little bit of a funk right now in a sense of just everything,” Harden said.

Jerami Grant On Sixers’ List Of Potential Targets For Simmons

November 19th, 2021 at 6:36am CST by Luke Adams

Pistons forward Jerami Grant is one of the players on the Sixers‘ list of targets for a potential Ben Simmons trade, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey also confirms Sam Amick’s report that James Harden is on Philadelphia’s list.

Amick reported on Thursday that the 76ers have a list of about 30 impact players whom they view as possible targets in a Simmons trade. Philadelphia believes several of those players could become available via trade within the next year or two, which is why the front office remains in no rush to resolve the Simmons situation. Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal are among the other stars on the club’s radar.

According to Pompey, the Sixers have engaged in discussions with the Pistons about the possibility of trading Simmons for a package that would include Grant, another forward, a young player, and a draft pick. One source told Pompey that Kelly Olynyk and Saddiq Bey are players that could be included in a possible deal between Philadelphia and Detroit, but another source said the Pistons would be unlikely to include either Olynyk or Bey.

Although one source told Pompey that the Sixers haven’t spoken to Detroit lately and would likely want a higher-profile player than Grant as the centerpiece of a Simmons deal, multiple sources said the two teams have had recent conversations centered around Grant.

A former Sixer, Grant has taken huge strides since last playing for the team in 2016. In 67 games (33.6 MPG) since joining the Pistons a year ago, the 27-year-old has averaged 21.5 PPG and 4.6 RPG on .425/.343/.841 shooting.

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report first reported last month that there was a belief the Pistons would entertain the idea of moving Grant in a deal for Simmons.

As for Harden, Pompey explains that the Sixers view the former Rocket as a possible sign-and-trade option in free agency next summer if they still haven’t dealt Simmons by that point. Harden didn’t sign an extension with the Nets prior to opening night last month and can opt out of his contract in 2022.

Harden has spoken about wanting to remain in Brooklyn for the rest of his career, so his decision to forgo an extension may have been more about trying to maximize his future earnings than about keeping his options open to jump ship. Still, it’s not inconceivable that he could consider other suitors as a free agent next summer if the Nets underachieve this season. Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is obviously very familiar with Harden due to their time spent together in Houston.

Harden is off to a slower-than-expected start this season, but is still putting up 20.3 PPG, 8.8 APG, and 7.6 RPG with a .395 3PT% through 16 games (34.4 MPG).

Sixers Have List Of About 30 Targets For Potential Simmons Trade

November 18th, 2021 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers remain averse to the idea of trading Ben Simmons unless they can land a star player in return, and the team has a list of approximately 30 potential targets who would fit the bill, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.

As Amick writes, there’s an internal belief in Philadelphia that at least a few of those players – perhaps even five or 10 – could hit the trade block within the next year or two. Although Amick isn’t able to identify all the stars on the list, he says Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, and James Harden are among them.

Whether the 76ers will ever be able to actually land one of the targets on their list remains an open question, but the fact that they remain focused on players of that caliber is an indication they’re still content to take their time to resolve the Simmons situation.

“This is like a multi-year thing,” one team source told The Athletic.

As Amick notes, it’s possible the Sixers’ viewpoint will change at some point prior to the February 10 trade deadline. Possible ownership pressure, fan frustration, and a handful of other factors will have to be taken into account. However, the team’s belief that its title chances will only be maximized by Simmons either returning to the court or being traded for a star player hasn’t wavered.

Here’s more from Amick on the Simmons saga:

Agent Rich Paul told Shams Charania last week that the Simmons situation is “no longer about a trade” and that the focus should be getting the 25-year-old right mentally. However, Amick has heard that Simmons’ camp recently reiterated its “strong desire” for a deal to be made. Amick adds that he doesn’t expect Simmons to return to the court for the 76ers anytime soon, if ever.
The Sixers believe that Simmons’ suitors have become even less motivated to make a deal in recent weeks, given the increasing uncertainty about his situation, according to Amick, who notes that potential trade partners have no assurances that Simmons’ mental health struggles are solely related to being in Philadelphia. That uncertainty further clouds his value.
There’s no indication that the NBA intends to get involved in the Simmons situation anytime soon, says Amick. A league source tells The Athletic that any league involvement would likely be a “last step.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks Bucks, Knee, Harden, More

November 16th, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was named GQ Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, made some interesting comments to GQ’s Zach Baron as part of the cover story for the magazine. Discussing the championship the Bucks won earlier this year, Antetokounmpo seemingly opened the door to potentially leaving Milwaukee down the road.

“One challenge was to bring a championship here and we did,” Antetokounmpo said. “It was very hard, but we did. Very, very hard. I just love challenges. What’s the next challenge? The next challenge might not be here.

“… Me and my family chose to stay in this city that we all love and has taken care of us—for now. In two years, that might change. I’m being totally honest with you. I’m always honest. I love this city. I love this community. I want to help as much as possible.”

While Antetokounmpo’s comments will likely raise some eyebrows, his agent Alex Saratsis told Baron that he doesn’t believe the two-time MVP, whose five-year super-max contract began this year, will give any real consideration to leaving Milwaukee anytime soon.

“I don’t think it’s, ‘I’m thinking about leaving the Bucks,'” Saratsis said. “But I think he’s genuinely like: ‘Okay, I have reached the pinnacle. The next challenge is, let’s repeat.’ But what happens if you do repeat? What’s the next challenge? What is that next barrier? When you think about it from a basketball perspective, by the age of 26, this kid has accomplished everything. So sometimes you’re going to have to manufacture what those challenges are.”

Here are a few more highlights from the GQ feature on Giannis:

Before he signed his long-term extension with the Bucks in 2020, Antetokounmpo was getting text messages from rival players encouraging him to leave, he told Baron. Some of those players haven’t talked to him since he decided to stay.
Although the injury didn’t sideline him for very long, the left knee hyper-extension Antetokounmpo sustained during the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals has had a lasting effect on him, he told Baron. “My leg was the opposite way. To this day, I feel the effect, the traumatic stress,” he said. “I still feel it, and I think I’m going to feel it until I die.”
Unlike many of his fellow superstars, Antetokounmpo insists he doesn’t view himself as a brand and isn’t concerned about how best to market himself, as Baron writes. “I don’t want to be the face of the league,” Giannis said. “I want to play great basketball. After that, if I disappear in the night, good. Don’t even talk about me, don’t even remember me. I don’t care.”
Antetokounmpo owns a collection of framed jerseys from past and current NBA players, and James Harden‘s is among them. It’s “not true” that he has any beef with Harden, Giannis told Baron.

Nets Notes: Harden, Aldridge, Irving, Iguodala

November 13th, 2021 at 1:30pm CST by JD Shaw

Nets superstar James Harden expressed confidence that he’s starting to get his health and conditioning back after a 39-point game against New Orleans on Friday, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com.

Harden, who’s coming back from a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered last season, also added 12 assists in the contest. It’s a significant step forward for the 2018 Most Valuable Player, especially considering how poorly he started the campaign.

“I’m getting there,” Harden said. “It wasn’t going to take long. I mean, this is the highest [level] in the sport is the NBA, the most talented players in this world. So it’s not going to be easy for me to just come out there and do what I do. It takes a lot of hard work to be playing at a point to which you guys have seen me play at.

“When I’m not scoring 30 points, when I’m averaging 18-some points, it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with James?’ It’s pretty solid still. I’ve been playing so well and so extremely at another level to where you guys set standards for me, and I set standards for myself as well. For me, I just continue to work. I feel a lot better, and the work don’t stop.”

There’s more out of Brooklyn today:

Veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge has provided strong offensive production off the bench so far this season, Peter Botte of the New York Post writes. Aldridge, who came out of retirement to re-sign with Brooklyn in the offseason, is averaging 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting 60% from the floor and 46% from deep in 12 games.
Brian Lewis of the New York Post explores the trade value of Kyrie Irving and how relevant he is to the team’s ambitions. Irving has yet to play this season for the Nets, who refuse to let him suit up until he becomes fully vaccinated or until New York City’s vaccine requirement changes. Irving can only play road games due to NYC’s mandate — something the Nets won’t allow.
Speaking of Irving, the 29-year-old received praise from former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala this week, as relayed by Sam Amick of The Athletic. Iguodala doubled down on his opinion that Irving is a top-20 player ever, further explaining his thinking in a conversation with Amick.

Nets Notes: Harden, New Rules, Irving, Aldridge

November 9th, 2021 at 12:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

The NBA’s new philosophy on calling fouls has been nicknamed the “Harden Rules,” and Nets guard James Harden is having a difficult time adapting to it, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Harden attempted just three free throws in Monday’s loss to the Bulls and was noticeably demonstrative after several non-calls.

Harden’s production has fallen dramatically during the season’s first 11 games as he’s averaging just 18.3 points per night after more than a decade of being among the league’s scoring leaders. Part of the drop has been at the foul line, where he’s taking just 4.6 free throws per game, down from 7.3 last season.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Harden told reporters after the game. “No, I don’t want to talk about it. I never got … it didn’t take me out of my game. I felt like I played well to the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, none of us played well. It definitely didn’t take me out of my game.”

There’s more on the Nets:

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype talked to several NBA executives about Kyrie Irving‘s trade value and found a widespread reluctance to deal for the enigmatic point guard. “For the most part, every front office and coaching staff is scared to death of him and doesn’t want to touch him,” an unidentified executive said. “Honestly, it might’ve been four teams before this (his refusal to get vaccinated). He’s a guy that front offices don’t trust. Coaches don’t want to deal with him. Players like him.” Another speculated that the Sixers might be willing to take him in exchange for Ben Simmons, but there’s overall pessimism that Irving will be dealt.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who has revived his career after the medical scare that forced him to briefly retire last spring, talked to Sopan Deb of The New York Times about the difficulty of almost seeing his career end so abruptly. “The first day didn’t feel real. The first day felt like I had an off day,” Aldridge said. “And then your second day, you feel like it’s a game day, so you’re just at home. And after like a week or two, you’re like: “Man, I’m not at the gym. I’m not with the fellas. I’m not traveling, not playing.” Like two weeks in, I was like: “Man, this is what it is. I have to find my new interest, shift my focus to something else.” That’s when it hit me, like, “Man, what’s next?”
The Nets are known for their stars, but a few players have created a Blue Collar Boys club that is dedicated to doing the dirty work, per Tom Dowd of NBA.com. Blake Griffin and Joe Harris started the club last season and have inducted other players as they prove themselves worthy.

Eastern Notes: Harden, Gafford, Simmons, Barnes

October 29th, 2021 at 8:35am CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday about his slow start to the season, Nets guard James Harden explained that he’s still shaking off the rust since he didn’t get to play much during an offseason that was mostly spent rehabbing his hamstring injury.

“I had no opportunities to play pickup or nothing this summer,” Harden said, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “Everything was rehab for three months, from a Grade 2 injury that happened three times in one season. So this is my fifth game of trying to just play with competition against somebody else. And as much as I want to rush the process and be back to hooping and killing, (you have to) take your time.”

Harden, who has rarely had to deal with injuries since entering the league in 2009, admitted it was “frustrating” and “draining” to battle the hamstring issue down the stretch last season and over the summer. However, he said that he thinks he’s “getting better every single game.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

Wizards center Daniel Gafford appears to have avoided a major injury after undergoing an MRI on his right quad contusion. Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said on Thursday that he expects Gafford to be back in a mater of days, not weeks (Twitter link via Ava Wallace of The Washington Post).
There’s no set timeline for Ben Simmons, who told the Sixers last Friday that he’s not yet mentally ready to play, but he has been at the team’s practice facility during the last week, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s been working out,” head coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday. “Today he was at shootaround, did a lot of shooting and a lot of stuff with (skills development coach) Spencer (Rivers).”
With the Raptors set to face the Magic for the first time this season on Friday, the Scottie Barnes/Jalen Suggs debate has resurfaced, but fans in Toronto have to be happy with what they’ve seen from Barnes so far, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Barnes, whom the Raptors picked over Suggs at No. 4 in this year’s draft, has averaged 17.0 PPG and 8.2 RPG on 53.7% shooting in his first five NBA games while taking on some challenging defensive assignments.