To me, it's not whether Harden is the best available FA out there. It's how we want to rebuild. I don't think an aging max guy is what we need (assuming Harden is asking for a long term max deal). I think it is safe to say that Harden is not going to lead this current team to contention. And the young players we have may or may not turn out to be star level guys. If they don't we are going to wallow in mediocrity treadmill as long as Harden is the lead dog. And by the time the youngsters' rookie contracts expire, Harden will still have one or two years left before he is off the book. The only teams that would benefit with an aging max player are those that already have one or two all-star level but not top tier guys. We are still at least a couple years from that even if our youngsters are all-stars. By that time, Harden will be declining (if not already) sharply. We have seen how one injury can render him a full season of mediocre performance. If we are going to roll the dice with these bunch of young players, I'd rather go all the way and hope that at least one of them will turn out to be a top tier guy. With Harden on the team, we are not going to see that. My preferred rebuild would be getting a decent mid-level playmaker to facilitate the growth of the team's core.
I agree, he doesn’t need this as a negotiation tactic. Harden has always struck me as someone who cares a lot about having fun and being comfortable. It might be more important to him than winning. Also, I don’t think him and Embid get along that well. Some of the frustrated comments Embid has made about him certainly can’t have helped their relationship. Also, maybe Harden doesn’t really like living in Philly all that much. He wouldn’t be the first person to have those feelings. I certainly think Houston is a better city to live in. but in the end, if Philly gets close to contending this year, I think Harden will resign to chase that ring. If Philly has a disappointing exit like last year, sure I can see Harden looking for a more enjoyable situation. Not sure why he’d have confidence in our front office, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he likes our young talent. I think the Chris Paul Suns turnaround might have changed the calculation for some veterans. We don’t have a Booker, but with proper development, we definitely have some pieces. Again I worry we can’t develop players, but assuming we get another high lotto pick, we should have one of the fullest stables of young talent in the league. I’ll bang the table for Green, Jabari and Sengun, just give me an org that knows how to develop talent.
The thing is, on the basketball side of things, he def seems to be having fun playing for the Sixers. I know the relationship with Embiid is kinda iffy at times, but he does genuinely enjoy the company of PJ, Maxey, Dan House, Melton, etc. He could've asked Daryl to fire Doc but he didn't, so it's not the coaching. Comfort comes first for NBA players. Guys like Harden want to win, yes, but comfort still comes first. He wants to be in the city he likes, with the team he likes. And the timeline makes no sense for him to play with the Baby Rockets. His return is going to come down to whether or not the Rockets are willing to deal everyone for another star so they could go all-in for the title immediately. He's not waiting out a few years for a 40 win team until this regime is ready. I just don't see that at all. And re: the outcome of the sixers season. I mean, if he wins the title then he would 100% be coming back because his legacy would already be set. So maybe, in his mind, he thinks he's going to win the title this year and then return to the Rockets (which some of us have always theorized would happen). But if he makes a deep run but loses, then it'd be hard for him to not run it back with Embiid again.
It's called sarcasm but if that is too R-rated for you I could say sorry which I am not. I only ask his fans to grow up, we all have some mental growth to do. If you read what I wrote, I actually said give him a short contract as a tryout. But you don't want him overstay his welcome.
Harden: 21.8ppg 11.1apg 6.4rpg KPJ: 18.7ppg, 5.5apg, 5.4rpg Harden is outplaying KPJ in every single facet of the game. Harden scores more and assists more (a lot more). Even if Harden's production goes down, at worst, he'll be on par with KPJ. Just sayin.
Harden would help our team to put us in the playoffs, because we would not be last in assists, turnovers and FG% with KPJ. However, if we get the 2nd pick in the draft we NEED to draft Scott. Scott, Jalen, Jabari and Sengun would create a dynasty in the NBA.
His love for haute couture, fashion sense is genuine love but also a getaway shelter for all the things basketball that didn't go his way.
Your alternative is to overpay a mediocre player to “facilitate growth.” Like Theis and Nwaba right? Lmao. This should be framed: For the Harden haters, all you really need to do ask them what should be done instead and you will quickly watch thier positions go up in flames.
Another reason I'm open to it is this should be the last season the Rockets are one of the worst teams/tanking. Harden leading a young team of Green, Sengun, Smith, Eason, and the 2023 pick. Then you have guys like Martin, Garuba, and Christopher who could get significant minutes.
This board will defend scrubs like Sura, Griffin, T-Rob, Michael Beasley, Von Wafer and Josh Smith to the death but will trash guys like Yao, TMac, and Harden. Never changes.
CP3 is a culture-setter, however. Harden is just brilliant, not a culture-setter. Ayton especially benefitted a lot from CP3, learning how to max his talent and how to play hard and right. I would rather have James chase a ring with Celtics and maybe try to get Jaylen Brown in the process. That dude is exemplary, he’d be a good leader of our young team.
So, let me make sure I understand. If Harden said he was ready to sign, you would tell him no, we would rather take a shot and try and sign Jaylen Brown the year after.
Not sure what poster you're talking about, but I laughed at all the Green haters last year and loved Harden when he was here. Jabari Smith I don't disklike, I'm just disappointed that his ROI is going to be way worse than advertised especially when we thought we were "settling" for Paolo. Regardless, it doesn't take a genius to realize that the greatest offensive creator of the last generation, even at half speed, absolutely fills a yawing gap in an area where the current team is lacking and in the case of KPJ and Green - showing almost no progress - and that it's directly tied to an area of need. The guy who's averaging more assists than anyone in the league has still got it, ass Regardless, like others have said, it's funny to think that watching James Harden create open baskets for the Shake Miltons and Montrez Harrells of the world is somehow going to make KPJ and Green into worse players by some sort of negative osmosis - you know he's going to create them for them too right?
No, no not at all. I’d sign him right away! I am saying, I would rather have a scenario where he wants to go to Boston, which make J.Brown available and willing to come to HOU… Also, isn’t this year Brown’s contract year?
This is actually a really good question, and honestly it deserves its own thread. What are the available options for the rockets 50mil in cap space, and what’s the best way to use it in a year where we don’t have our own pick? Or do we already have a thread where people are talking about this?
Anyone who puts KPJ in the same sentence with arguably the second best playmaker in the nba after Jokic needs mental help
I dont think taking an overall $50M cut even would be a big deal to James. I think his career basketball earnings will still be $500M+, Adidas deal was 13 years $200M. He is also sponsored by Beats Headphones, State Farm, I am not sure how much of Body Armour he owned, but I know the Bryant estate received ~400M from the sale of it, and James was a very early investor in this along with Kobe, assuming it was still a significant return, Trolli sponsorship, just started his own wine label etc. My guess is he will have had $1B in pre tax earnings before hes 38. If you look at KD who he associates with, he and Rich are in on a lot of early stage VC investments (postmates, coinbase pre IPO w 50X returns) I wouldn't be surprised if James also has access to some series A opportunities. James is also very close to Michael Rubin, who has become a billionaire recently, and is a serial entrepreneur.
