Harden's mother: "He is doing the best for his career...He is asking for a chance to get a ring”

No it's not. Do you think the CP3/Westbrook trade would've happened if both Morey and Harden were against it?

Your Ariza/Tucker point has two issues. First, there's a difference between a sunk cost like CP3's contract and signing a new contract that would overpay role players. Second, they're role players. It's much easier to replace a role player than it is a star.

 

I'm not sure how it's in Harden's best interest to refuse to show up and play.

 

But you can't keep saying he's not a winning player while he's on winning teams his entire career. Look at a guy like Kyrie instead, who, when alone, can't lead his team out of the lottery. Who, when he sits out, his teams do just fine without him. Yeah, the guy hit big shots when Lebron was carrying his team, that's about it. If it weren't for Lebron Kyrie's team wouldn't even be in the playoffs.

Now compare that to Westbrook that carried a team to the playoffs...in the west. Yes Durant is a #1 guy but you're still downplaying Russ' role on those teams. They don't make the finals that year without Russ.

Giannis can take less since he's not a guard, him hitting 3s would be a huge bonus. Also, you can get better at shooting even later in your career. You can see Tony Parker and Kidd as examples of this. I mean they were still pretty bad shooters though but better in key situations.

There isn't even whispers from anonymous sources that Russ is a bad teammate in any way though? People just think it is because he's brash and up front but players, usually, respect that. My argument was the Royce article wasn't about how Russ was a bad teammate or a bad player to coach and was more that Russ doesn't care for analytics too much.

It became analytics when they were trying to tell him what spots on the floor he shoots well at. That's analytics and a player is likely going to ignore them. Like sure, PJ shoots well in teh corner, but if you're telling him this maybe he hesitates at the top or somewhere in between, maybe he thinks too much about it? So why not just keep that data with the coach so he could put Russ in his best spots instead of going to Russ about it?

As for Ben, him not shooting the three hurts his team a lot more than him shooting it ever would because the defense never has to defend it, not even a little bit. At his age, he should be chucking it a lot more and testing his shot as it is the only way he's ever going to get better at it.

Also, who said that, bring up Harden working on his mid-range or post game and people always bring up analytics when we're not talking about how efficient he might be at it or whatever, just that it is needed when his 5th step back isn't working and they are packing the paint, then he needs somewhere on the court to score.

 

I think it makes sense if Morey already knew he was heading to the Sixers and he wanted to be in the running to trade for him.

 

Me neither, yet, here we are.

 

https://theathletic.com/2245976/202...hat-does-james-harden-really-want/?source=rss

 

Total speculation, but maybe he's got friends from other power-players in the league and they are encouraging him to stand his ground against management.

I think once the regular season starts, it will be very difficult for Harden to continue to miss games. It feels wrong, but the Rockets' best play might be to just wait it out and shame Harden to return through their silence.

 

I don't think other power players in the league would tell him not to show-up. Seems most other guys would demand a trade while playing. I mean, the threat you are going to walk to another team at the end of your contract is big enough incentive for a team to trade you. Not playing is more of a tantrum move to get it done now versus being patient.

But it's a foolish move on Harden's part. Not only does it soil his brand and make him worth less, it poisons his relationship with his fanbase - the one that has supported him while the rest of the league's fans mocked him, and puts him into a dangerous category of being a troublesome primadonna. Of course he (and his mom-agent) probably don't see this, but that's the reality.

All he is doing by not showing up to practice is basically telling other teams, "hey when I come to play for you, if you don't do what I want, I will throw a fit"

 

Yes, I do think the Westbrook trade still would have happened because the owner wanted it to happen. The GM and Harden wanted MDA to get an extension, did it happen? No..... The GM and Harden wanted to use the MLE, did it happen? No.

 

Because he believes it will motivate the Rockets to trade him a lot quicker. If Harden shows up to practice and plays, then there is little motivation to trade him. Harden is banking on the Rockets not being willing to drag this out.

 

You really think Tillman would've forced through the CP3/Westbrook trade (and mortgaged the Rockets' near-term future) if both Morey and Harden were against it?

I have a bridge to sell you.

 

Seems Tilman is the type of person willing to drag it out. Harden is miscalculating here.

If I am the Rockets I have no reason to give in. I'm going to commit myself to getting strong value no matter what Harden does.

 

You must not know who Tilman is.

 

Yeah I do...... and I have the past actions of the owner to back it up....... Tilman did things that the GM and Harden didn't want all the time. It is HIS team and he is heavily involved in it.

 

Tillman is the same person who called the Paul contract the worst deal in professional sports history. What rock have you been hiding under all this time to not know this... Btw, jackass, nook is a well respected insider here.

 

I don't know honestly. Westbrook didn't show up to camp and he was dealt the same day.

At this point the only conclusion I can reach is that Harden just has no intention of wearing a Rockets jersey again.

 

What happens if Harden doesn't get traded and doesn't play? In other words, he is in breach of contract?

 

Update: Harden is exactly the kind of POS to lie to everyone for months while telling his mom what is really going on.

It seems I greatly overestimated his character and his intelligence.

 

Harden with meek on a jet ski. His girl loving him on comments. Oh goddddd