I don't understand the mindset of those who do not want harden. Either they don't bother to watch us be shtty all season like Deb or they have a grudge on how harden left. We are dead last we need all the star power we can get. Harden fits us perfectly we need a pg and a vet.
He dosent get it. Look at the Miami game when they literally demonstrated how explosive they are offensively when they play through harden and Maxey. Tonight the run in the fourth started with Embiid on the bench. There has to be a mix where Harden is averaging more then 13 shots a game and Maxey is more involved Harden running the offense
I don't know about others. My issue is not getting Harden. It's how much we pay him for how long. The length is more important than the amount. If it's a two years deal, I'm totally on board. Anything longer than three years is a no to me. I doubt that Harden will demand anything less than a 4-year max. It also depends on who else we get. If we get the first pick, then we should go all in to get as many stars as we can. If it's #2 (presumably Henderson) then the question is fit. If it's a second tier guy, then getting Harden is not going to do much other than winning more games in the regular season. And how the young core is expected to develop is also a consideration. There are many factors. It's not just "he's the best available this offseason." If Harden wasn't on the downhill side of his career, it would have been a no brainer. The fact that age is a big factor, we have to think about the timeline of our rebuild.
Getting a star that's aging is always a risk. We heard for years that Harden game will age gracefully as he aged since he plays like an old man. It's understandable Folks are wary since he left us, but I find it extremely unlikely that folks would b using this excuse if he never left us. I on the other am willing to sign harden regardless of his current age bc of his service to us and his new playstyle. The franchise currently is directionless, I honestly don't trust the front office to b able to find a better pg at this present time. Tdlr: I am willing to take a leap of faith on harden bc of his service to us. I would b more wary of signing any other older stars to a max.
Potential stars that are usually chill with James and potential trade targets this offseason: Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Dame Lillard
Need to be more realistic. The Rockets need to be targeting guys like Harrison Barnes, Jerami Grant or Cameron Johnson and then vet role players Bogdan Bogdanovic, Seth Curry to fill the bench for shooting and floor spacing. None of those guys listed is a realistic options.
Bill Simmons on his podcast with Russilio : in the whisper circles everyone thinks Harden is going back to Houston! If you speak to any plugged in Insider it sounds like him going back to Houston is a forgone conclusion
Yeah, I just finished listening to the Harden segment on Simmons and paused to come over here. Not being a TX person I don't know Rockets fans IRL so I don't have a sense of the vibe. Without reading 60 pages of this thread, is there a consensus? Is it split? I'm so surprised that Harden coming back is even a possibility. I never felt great affection for him the way I have for my favorite Rockets but I've loved his game since his rookie season and admire the hell out of how he was always working on his craft well, developing new skills and moves into his late 20s. I defended him when my bball friends called him a choker, noted how the '17-'18 Rockets were one of the five or so best teams ever that didn't make the finals—and I have no doubt they would have with a healthy CP3. That said...what an @#$%. I mean what a total @#$@#$. The way he forced the awful CP3 trade and then quit on the team? Do a lot of people on here want him back? Want to root for him again? Want him to have influence over the Rockets' moron owner again? I made peace with his exit because even though he was a colossal @%@$ because in the end, it kept the Rockets from signing a declining star to a supermax extension. They got rid of him at exactly the right time, just before his value dipped—even if he hamstrung them by forcing them to trade with Brooklyn rather than giving them a list of a few teams. But if they bring him back, I really don't know how I'm going to manage to root for him. I like Embiid a ton and Melton was one of my favorite Rockets draft picks and Maxi is fun and I have nothing but love for Morey and I root hard against Philly because of Harden. Anyway, just curious. What are the vibes here?
Steve Nash was still getting it done in his late 30s, CP3 is somehow still going strong. If you're looking for a player with longevity, a skills-based point guard who doesn't rely too much on athleticism and can shoot and make plays is the way to go. I think it's very possible James is still going strong at the end of a four year deal.
CP3 isn't asked to do much other than staying healthy. He is decent but nowhere near the Chris Paul of the Hornets, Clippers or early Rockets even Thunder. KD is going to take them places when healthy. CP3 didn't deserve 40 million a year when he was with the Rockets as Harden wouldn't deserve close to 40 million a year when he is 38. I don't have a problem with 20 million at the end, it's still tons of money for a player.
Yeah, but wouldn't that type of outcome also be fine in our case? We're hoping/planning to develop a franchise player out of all these young kids (and maybe draft one this offseason if we're lucky). Hopefully Harden won't have to be the first option anymore in 2026 or so.
I believe he likes the idea of playing with Green and a potentially Wemby . The Rockets also have the flexibility to get a few pieces that can make them competitive so he probably sees the opportunity of putting a rag tag operation back in the playoffs as a great opportunity to help his legacy.
To be fair, any super star that was focused on winning should and would have left us. Now, we can argue that Harden played a part in our window for winning closing by insisting we get Brodie on the team prior, but our team with Wall and Cousins SUCKED. Also, while I didn't like the way Harden left, he wasn't causing issues until our dumb FO went out and publicly said we were OK with things getting uncomfortable.
Signing Harden is just a bandaid on a really bad situation. Right now no one on our team is a starter on a real contender, every player is either "raw" "takes time to develope".
I think we need to realize that if Harden comes to Houston, Sengun will be gone. Harden won't want a below the rim center clogging the lane for him by wanting to post up. That's why I think the only way Harden comes back is if the Rockets win the lottery and get Wemby.
