James Harden quitting on the Rockets?

[celts55]

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?

I think that was the OP's point. If he wants to he could play, but he doesn't. Isn't that pretty much the definition of a quitter?

Pretty much how I felt about Irving in last playoff series with the Celtics.

[Moranis]

He appears to be quitting on the team, but he is still averaging 10 apg over these last 5 games.  He obviously isn't shooting as well or as much, though I'm not sure the shooting less is really a problem as he was probably shooting too much before and is still shooting 14.8 shots a game over the last 5. It is the 25.6% from 3 on 7.8 attempts that is the real issue.  Maybe it is just a shooting slump and that is why he is shooting less. 

[CBS_Take a Report]

Yes he has quit on the rockets. He has even acknowledged it publicly. Is this a pattern or an outlier? He needs a change of scenery.

[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.

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?

You’re glossing over the fact that he’s given up on the Rockets and is throwing his teammates/coach under the bus. You really want to bring someone in that does that? I do agree with you that he is talented, when engaged, when motivated. but he’s also a quitter and right now is a cancer in the locker room as well. Who does that remind me of....Kyrie Irving? And how is that working out for Brooklyn. Fortunately, I do feel like DA and Celtics ownership learned from what happened with Kyrie. They certainly avoided head case players like DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside during the off-season, even though the C’s have/had a need at that position.

[Phantom255x]

The fact that the Sixers and Morey haven't acquired him to this point should probably tell you what you need to know. A trade from both sides makes perfect sense but PHI hasn't done it. I wonder if Morey also doesn't want him after what happened near the end of his Rockets' tenure.

[LilRip]

His price has gotta have plummeted at this point right? Despite him quitting on the team, I’d trade for Harden, for sure. He’s still a legit superstar and a former MVP. But no way am I giving up Kemba and Smart (gotta be a 3-team right?) without getting 1st rounders back.

Of course, it all depends on DA’s assessment. Tatum is still our franchise player and is looking like a perennial all-teamer and future MVP candidate.

[Tr1boy]

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?

 

what a huge difference between Perkins impersonation and the real Harden (pic below).  He has let himself "go".  Maybe this is why he wants to join a super team.  Can't play at a high level anymore/or chooses not to.  Just wants to ride on the coattails

[Tr1boy]

His price has gotta have plummeted at this point right? Despite him quitting on the team, I’d trade for Harden, for sure. He’s still a legit superstar and a former MVP. But no way am I giving up Kemba and Smart (gotta be a 3-team right?) without getting 1st rounders back.

Of course, it all depends on DA’s assessment. Tatum is still our franchise player and is looking like a perennial all-teamer and future MVP candidate.

Naw... I think Danny would trade Smart, Walker and a few 1sts for Harden  (if interested)

Harden is still locked up for several years.   A chubby Harden is still dangerous playing alongside Brown and Tatum.   Just opens up so much room

Even though he is chubby/looks like a guy that let himself go at the moment. Come playoffs he would likely be in good condition and try to win a ring.  To legitimize all of his regular season accomplishments

[Moranis]

The fact that the Sixers and Morey haven't acquired him to this point should probably tell you what you need to know. A trade from both sides makes perfect sense but PHI hasn't done it. I wonder if Morey also doesn't want him after what happened near the end of his Rockets' tenure.

They don't want to give up Simmons.  I'm not sure I would do that either.  Simmons is an absolute monster and the Sixers are playing very well.

[Goldstar88]

Adam Zagoria: Per @Stephen A. Smith on @FirstTake, the Rockets are “strongly considering” letting James Harden “stay home” and sit out “until they’re able to move him.” “He wants to to go to Philly, that would be his No. 1 preference,” Smith said, with Brooklyn as his No. 2 option.

2 mins ago – via Twitter
Nick Wright: If Houston demanded Kyrie, they could have him, but the belief is Houston isn’t interested in Kyrie. BK trying to get a 3rd team involved to potentially enhance Houston’s return. Would have a Big 3 of KD, Harden & Kyrie but very little else, no depth & no future picks. Question for Joe Tsai is is he willing to make a similar bet Prokhorov made shortly after he bought the team: Mortgaging all future assets & future abilities to improve the team for a chance to win the title right now, especially when the Harden-Kyrie fit is questionable at best.

[hpantazo]

Adam Zagoria: Per @Stephen A. Smith on @FirstTake, the Rockets are “strongly considering” letting James Harden “stay home” and sit out “until they’re able to move him.” “He wants to to go to Philly, that would be his No. 1 preference,” Smith said, with Brooklyn as his No. 2 option.

2 mins ago – via Twitter
Nick Wright: If Houston demanded Kyrie, they could have him, but the belief is Houston isn’t interested in Kyrie. BK trying to get a 3rd team involved to potentially enhance Houston’s return. Would have a Big 3 of KD, Harden & Kyrie but very little else, no depth & no future picks. Question for Joe Tsai is is he willing to make a similar bet Prokhorov made shortly after he bought the team: Mortgaging all future assets & future abilities to improve the team for a chance to win the title right now, especially when the Harden-Kyrie fit is questionable at best.

Good luck with that, seeing as Kyrie doesn't even want to play basketball and Harden looks like Oliver Miller.

[Moranis]

Harden, Tucker, McLemore, Clemons

for

Harris, Thybulle, Milton, Korkmaz, Maxey, 2 or 3 1st's

About the best I could do without including Simmons.  I'd probably take that trade over whatever Brooklyn could offer, but I might prefer a C's trade centered around Walker over that one.

[Donoghus]

Why the heck would HOU trade one headache (Harden) for another (Kyrie)?

[ETNCeltics]

Looking at the Lakers/Rockets boxscore, what appears wrong with Houston is Harden. He's griping about not being competitive, but the reason they aren't competitive is because he's playing poorly.

The Rockets have an emerging young star in Wood, and a perennial all star guard opposite Harden. They don't have a team that can win it all. But they should be competitive. Any mess they have is because they've taken on bad contracts in an effort to appease Harden. Just as Lebron made a mess in Cleveland and walked away from it, Harden is trying to do the same to Houston.

IMO, Philly would be nuts to give up Simmons for him, and I don't have words to describe how foolish it would be for Boston to send one of their 2 stars out for him.

[Tr1boy]

Why the heck would HOU trade one headache (Harden) for another (Kyrie)?

exactly

and can't see how Wall and Irving co exist

This also wouldn't bode well for KD.  It seems like his only one real friend in the league is Irving