James Harden quitting on the Rockets?

[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.

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.

Yeah which makes me think a Harden trade doesn't seem likely still. I mean, if BKN wants to send Kyrie + other assets to Houston for Harden, they can. I don't know why Houston would even be interested in doing that, and BKN adds Harden to KD but probably mortgages a lot of their future + current depth pieces in the process. Because no way HOU is doing it just for Kyrie and a pick straight up at this point.

[Goldstar88]

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

Well, one headache is several years younger in KI and he costs less money than Harden. That’s all I got.

[SHAQATTACK]

Dearest James ..... your looking more out of shape than Charles Barkley

Just say. " NO ! "   to fried chicken and pizza !   Not NBA friendly foods.

btw ....you have proved to be the perfect  teammate for the likes of Durant and Irving .

[jambr380]

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

I can't imagine they would at this point. Harden at least wants to continue playing basketball; the same cannot be said of Kyrie. If HOU traded for Kyrie and he was so angry that he refused to play or even retired, they would be screwed. I never thought Kemba would be a better trade piece than Kyrie because of the injury, but Kemba will very likely be on the court again before Kyrie - and, if he looks good, well, that is a better deal than anybody else is currently offering...by far, really.

[jbpats]

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

I can't imagine they would at this point. Harden at least wants to continue playing basketball; the same cannot be said of Kyrie. If HOU traded for Kyrie and he was so angry that he refused to play or even retired, they would be screwed. I never thought Kemba would be a better trade piece than Kyrie because of the injury, but Kemba will very likely be on the court again before Kyrie - and, if he looks good, well, that is a better deal than anybody else is currently offering...by far, really.

According to recent reporting they don't want Kyrie which is definitely smart. I'd take an unmotivated Harden that plays vs. a lunatic in Kyrie that doesn't show up.

4 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.

[lrybrd]

My theory - Kyrie went off the reservation because he hears rumors within the Nets' organization that he is going to be traded to Houston for Harden and either (1) he is trying to torpedo that deal by him going AWOL; or (2) he has no intention of playing for the Rockets after he is traded and is starting his hiatus now.   

[footey]

My theory - Kyrie went off the reservation because he hears rumors within the Nets' organization that he is going to be traded to Houston for Harden and either (1) he is trying to torpedo that deal by him going AWOL; or (2) he has no intention of playing for the Rockets after he is traded and is starting his hiatus now.

I was about to post this. TP.

Hope he sabotages that trade; maybe a package of Kemba and Smart would actually work, although I don't see how Houston or a third team would consider without first seeing Kemba play some games at full strength. when is the trade deadline?

[Moranis]

3 Team Trade

BKN - Harden, Beverley
LAC - Irving
HOU - Prince, Williams, Zubac, Mann, Kabengele, 6 million cash (to cut players), 2 1st's from BKN, 2 1st's from LAC

Other pieces could be added of course, like say Shamet instead of a 1st or things like that.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

3 Team Trade

BKN - Harden, Beverley
LAC - Irving
HOU - Prince, Williams, Zubac, Mann, Kabengele, 6 million cash (to cut players), 2 1st's from BKN, 2 1st's from LAC

Other pieces could be added of course, like say Shamet instead of a 1st or things like that.

This is a very creative idea. My main issue with it is that I don't think it gives Houston any future piece that can be part of that team moving forward. Zubac and Kabengele are just not good starting basketball players.

I've got to have at least one good player to forge a new team, like how the Thunder got Shai for George. I've got to think Houston can get at least one good young player (not even necessarily a future All-star) for Harden with the salary filler rotation guys and boatload of firsts.

[Moranis]

3 Team Trade

BKN - Harden, Beverley
LAC - Irving
HOU - Prince, Williams, Zubac, Mann, Kabengele, 6 million cash (to cut players), 2 1st's from BKN, 2 1st's from LAC

Other pieces could be added of course, like say Shamet instead of a 1st or things like that.

This is a very creative idea. My main issue with it is that I don't think it gives Houston any future piece that can be part of that team moving forward. Zubac and Kabengele are just not good starting basketball players.

I've got to have at least one good player to forge a new team, like how the Thunder got Shai for George. I've got to think Houston can get at least one good young player (not even necessarily a future All-star) for Harden with the salary filler rotation guys and boatload of firsts.

Fair point.  Prince, Zubac, and Kabengele are younger guys but more rotation type players and not foundational pieces.  They would get four 1st rounders though.  There are plenty of ways to modify like including Shamet, Allen, or LeVert and maybe they have to be included. 

So like this one works

BKN - Harden, Beverley, Tucker, McLemore, Mann
LAC - Irving
HOU - LeVert, Prince, Williams, Zubac, Kabengele, 6 million cash (to cut players), 1 1st's from BKN, 2 1st's from LAC

Mann could go to either BKN or HOU, but I figured he would be cut, so send him to BKN and then less for HOU to cut. 

[Donoghus]

Shams & Sam Amick posted something to the Athletic.  Here's an excerpt.

When James Harden brought the Houston Rockets’ messy melodrama to center stage late Tuesday night, announcing during his 90-second postgame Zoom session that “it’s something that I don’t think can be fixed,” a natural question emerged: Was a trade finally about to happen?

It appears that could be the case.

Sources tell The Athletic the Rockets are sifting through offers on a potential James Harden from two teams — the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers — that could culminate quickly. Approximately two months after he first asked to be traded, and with the Rockets (3-6) plummeting while the strain of it all reveals itself so plainly among his teammates, the situation is clearly reaching a breaking point and a deal appears all but inevitable. But which one will the Rockets pick?

The Nets have prepared a package to Houston for Harden featuring all of their four future first-round picks and three future pick swaps, multiple sources said. This would place significant pressure on the team to win immediately and the potential partnership between two former star teammates in Harden and Kevin Durant. Nets general manager Sean Marks and his front office have built an impactful culture around their players, and have been able to keep strong future flexibility in the process. For the Nets, there could be hesitation to mortgage future assets with this type of ferocity. Brooklyn does not owe any extra firsts or have any owed to it, so it has four firsts and three swaps available.

[CelticsElite]

Looks like he’s about to be traded


The Houston Rockets are planning to keep James Harden away from the team until they can complete a trade involving the disgruntled star, sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski.

Houston's front office is currently weighing the best final trade offers from the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell Shelburne and Wojnarowski.

Rockets coach Stephen Silas told reporters that Harden would not be at Wednesday's practice, one day after the former league MVP said the team is "just not good enough" following a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"We felt that it was best for the group and best for James not to come to practice," Silas said.

The Rockets' trade talks with the Nets and Sixers had gathered momentum in recent days -- even before Harden's comments Tuesday night, sources told Shelburne and Wojnarowski.

[Tr1boy]

Looks like he’s about to be traded


The Houston Rockets are planning to keep James Harden away from the team until they can complete a trade involving the disgruntled star, sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski.

Houston's front office is currently weighing the best final trade offers from the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell Shelburne and Wojnarowski.

Rockets coach Stephen Silas told reporters that Harden would not be at Wednesday's practice, one day after the former league MVP said the team is "just not good enough" following a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"We felt that it was best for the group and best for James not to come to practice," Silas said.

The Rockets' trade talks with the Nets and Sixers had gathered momentum in recent days -- even before Harden's comments Tuesday night, sources told Shelburne and Wojnarowski.

Cmon Danny.

Smart and Walker for Chubster

[NKY fan]

Funny thing on libertyballers and netsdaily some fans are praying that the other team wins the bid for harden lol 😂 😂

[Jiri Welsch]

Harden for Simmons could make the 76ers very good. A clear 1-2 punch with Harden and Embiid and an insane pick and roll combo.

Harden for whatever Brooklyn offers for some reason worries me less. Just because Harden, Irving, and Durant could have a hard time sharing the ball.