James Harden quitting on the Rockets?

[footey]

I'd probably accept a trade involving Kemba and Smart for Harden, but would feel dirty after I did it.

[michigan adam]

I think I'd rather Kemba on IR for the year than to trade for Harden.

[ChillyWilly]

I think I'd rather Kemba on IR for the year than to trade for Harden.

TP

[jambr380]

I’m probably becoming a less and less ardent supporter of trading for Harden (mainly because of the ascension of JT & JB), and would rather try and build around them - they’re locked in for long contracts, and have no personality issues.

Kemba could probably fetch some elite role players in a trade. Some deal with Dallas or Denver could be intriguing.

So I’m not too sure about pursuing a Harden deal, considering our ideal trade package probably doesn’t match up well with Houston’s.

I still think that a team with Harden as its offensive centrepiece next to 4 strong defenders who can provide extra value on offence has a really good shot at winning the title. I would wait until the offseason before I make a move though, I think we should wait for Tatum's poison pill provision to expire so we can have more options in a Harden trade.

I don't even want to ask why you want to wait for Tatum's new contract to start - please don't tell me that he would be a possible trade piece.

I still like Harden enough that I would trade Kemba and Smart for him this season. No way would I wait for the offseason where he only has one season left. If we got to the offseason and he refused to extend, then the writing would be on the wall and at least we could trade him. I know the Kyrie mess is going on at the same time as this Harden stuff, but this situation seems a lot closer to AD than Kyrie.

[Goldstar88]

You wouldn’t be happy with a trade of Kemba Walker and change for him right now? We’ve watched A) How offenses could do virtually anything against Kemba in the playoffs last year and B) How this team has played without Kemba.

This is a superstar league. He is a superstar. Culture matters. Stop it. Championships matter.

Did you not read any of my post? Harden is quitting on his team and physically letting himself go. Check out the link in my original post, it’s pathetic. I don’t care how talented he has been in the past, that’s not someone I would want to bring in. Offenses are doing whatever they want against Harden, he’s not even trying. JH was superstar, but right now he’s a 30+year old, out of shape, malcontent, who has quit on his team. He never gave his new teammates or new coach a chance. Least Kyrie is being a distraction off the court. Harden is basically sabotaging his team right now during games.

[ETNCeltics]

We have 2 young stars who need to be on the ball. 2 guys who are now the leadership of our team. Harden isn’t going to play second fiddle to anyone. He would wreck our culture, and would be a terrible fit alongside the Js. He would stunt their ascension, and then vanish in 2 years.

Let someone else blow up their team for that headache. You’d think the Celtics would’ve learned this lesson already after Kyrie.

[Amonkey]

I liked John Wall’s quote.

"He's talking to his own opinion. I can't know what he thinks about the team or what he feels like we are," Wall said. "I know how much hard work these guys put in ... to try to get better every day. I know how much work I put into it to get back and compete at a high level.

"There's a lot of guys here that want to compete at a high level. Like I told everybody tonight and told the guys before, when one through 15 guys are all on the same page and they commit and they know their role and they know what they want to get out of this and that's to win, it'll all be fine. But when you have certain guys in the mix that don't want to buy in all as one, it's going to be hard to do anything special or anything good as a basketball team."

Wall is an injury prone player but he’s also a leader. Way to keep the rest of the team focused through the side distraction.

[Goldstar88]

I liked John Wall’s quote.

"He's talking to his own opinion. I can't know what he thinks about the team or what he feels like we are," Wall said. "I know how much hard work these guys put in ... to try to get better every day. I know how much work I put into it to get back and compete at a high level.

"There's a lot of guys here that want to compete at a high level. Like I told everybody tonight and told the guys before, when one through 15 guys are all on the same page and they commit and they know their role and they know what they want to get out of this and that's to win, it'll all be fine. But when you have certain guys in the mix that don't want to buy in all as one, it's going to be hard to do anything special or anything good as a basketball team."

Wall is an injury prone player but he’s also a leader. Way to keep the rest of the team focused through the side distraction.

Tp for the post and good for John Wall. Houston is lucky to have him.

[Donoghus]

We're still visiting acquiring Harden, huh?

 

I agree with the OP on the hard pass.

[Goldstar88]

We have 2 young stars who need to be on the ball. 2 guys who are now the leadership of our team. Harden isn’t going to play second fiddle to anyone. He would wreck our culture, and would be a terrible fit alongside the Js. He would stunt their ascension, and then vanish in 2 years.

Let someone else blow up their team for that headache. You’d think the Celtics would’ve learned this lesson already after Kyrie.

I really hope the Celtics learned from what happened with Kyrie. Apparently, many fans have not...

[BringToughnessBack]

That extra weight Harden is carrying is going to lead to an injury. It is only a matter of time. You can't play in this league and let your body go into the heavy zone when you are over 30 and not think it will come back and get you in the end.

His weight plus attitude would equal Tatum bolting in a few years or asking for a trade when things blow up in our faces after one season.

Some top superstars I would easily trade for if I knew they were on board with our program and being here long term and had a history of winning big games and that includes being in the finals and were not a head case. Kyrie had 2 of 4 of those qualities and that blew up for us. Harden has 1 of 4 of those qualities. Do we really think he would suddenly see the light on our team?

[tonydelk]

Tim MacMahon
@espn_macmahon
·
2h
James Harden says Rockets are "just not good enough ... I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed."

Maybe bc you dont care/chubby now...doesnt help Hardy

When did Perk play for the Rockets?

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Tim MacMahon
@espn_macmahon
·
2h
James Harden says Rockets are "just not good enough ... I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed."

Maybe bc you dont care/chubby now...doesnt help Hardy

When did Perk play for the Rockets?

Lol!!!

[tonydelk]

I do not want harden anywhere near this team.  Kryme was enough of a polarizing character that the C's don't need another.  If Kemba is truly pain Free the C's are a championship caliber team with Kemba.  I still feel Romeo has potential to help this year if he ever gets healthy.  The bench was playing well and if that is the norm versus an aberration the C's are good.  Harden is not wanted or needed. 

[CBS_Take a Report]

You wouldn’t be happy with a trade of Kemba Walker and change for him right now? We’ve watched A) How offenses could do virtually anything against Kemba in the playoffs last year and B) How this team has played without Kemba.

This is a superstar league. He is a superstar. Culture matters. Stop it. Championships matter.

Did you not read any of my post? Harden is quitting on his team and physically letting himself go. Check out the link in my original post, it’s pathetic. I don’t care how talented he has been in the past, that’s not someone I would want to bring in. Offenses are doing whatever they want against Harden, he’s not even trying. JH was superstar, but right now he’s a 30+year old, out of shape, malcontent, who has quit on his team. He never gave his new teammates or new coach a chance. Least Kyrie is being a distraction off the court. Harden is basically sabotaging his team right now during games.

I read your original post. I just don’t agree with it. You are correct he is overweight and out of shape. This is a bad look for sure. But you are failing to acknowledge that when he wants to apply himself (which he did for the past 8 years, he was a leading scorer in the league for that same timeframe). It is arguable he has been the best player in this league right up there with Lebron, Kawhi, Giannis and KD.

You’ll also note that in his first 3 games returning to the Rockets, his numbers were:

44 points/17 Assists
34 points/8 Assists
33 points/8 Assists

When he is engaged and applies himself which he has consistently, he is one of the best players in the league. Period full stop. In this league, any time you can get a top 5 player you have to explore it. It isn’t like Harden has been well known for a lack of effort type of guy especially offensively. Maybe a chucker but not a lack of effort guy.

In terms of him getting back into basketball weight and condition, that will take care of itself. He has always been a little pudgy of a guy. And that extra weight and lack of conditioning didn’t impact his first 3 games or the last 8 years where he was a scoring champion now did it?