I think I am open to Harden returning if Ime Udoka is open to the idea. I don't want Harden to get in the way of the ball movement, accountability and defensive emphasis that Udoka wants to implement. I also don't want Harden on a 4 year max. If there is a compromise there, cool. Both Harden and the Rockets could be using each other for leverage, too. If the Rockets want Scoot Henderson (for example), having a very public flirtation with Harden could tamp down the draft compensation Charlotte, or Portland would be seeking in a trade.
Some of you claim that but clearly some of you have no idea what you’re watching. There’s a difference
Were supposed to care what roosh says bc? I could post Adam Spolane and ben D saying the same thing about harden. Are you going to take that into context too
There’s plenty of tape. Continuing to Lead the league in assists is one of the most basic factors even a kid could understand
yes we know. a common talking point when it comes to harden. Harden was very prolific here in Houston too with the assists. very predictable, which crushed him over and over and over again. Hit Harden with that double and the team falls apart around him because nobody else is getting the assists besides Harden. PnR with Embiid it's a pass to MVP Embiid, or a pass to somebody in the corner probably PJ, or a pass to an open Maxey. then everybody got mad at Tobias because he didn't know where he fit in the offense that only has Harden passing the ball. Harden dont play team ball he is the team.
Harden coming in with Udoka is going to have certain expectations. Will Harden play exactly the way Udoka wants him to? I highly doubt it. But I don't think we will see nearly as much iso heavy Harden. We can count on him holding the ball too much sometimes, not moving off the ball much, and not playing the best defense. But we can also likely count on him running an offense that is significantly better than what the young guys have been running.
This...... did these Harden-Stans not watch him play in Houston or when he left? I've never seen folks more excited about an offense that doesn't work in the playoffs..... "but but but Harden will mentor these young guys" Mentor them by teaching them a style that gets stomped in the playoffs?
And the culmination of leading the league in assists was quitting in the playoffs..... AGAIN. What's the point of bringing that up when clearly it doesn't translate into team success? Who the hell is happy in Philly with how the season ended?
I personally would rather not bring Harden back but I'd 100% rather have him back over another year all young players again. If they can find someone else to run the offense I'm all for it but if it's Harden or bust I'd take that over another year of awful basketball.
Harden apparently "quit in the playoffs" now and "never had team success" People will just make up whatever they want I guess.
I don't understand this dichotomy of either we get Harden or we are doomed to 20 win seasons. The FO has literally been trying to position itself for high draft picks over player development.
LOL. Can't even quote me like a man. If you watched game 7 of the Sixers Celtics matchup and came away thinking Harden didn't quit then there is nothing else to say.
But it’s smarter not to win more games and not get these kids developing and give okc the picks the next couple of years
Yes toss us in the briar patch of the 3rd best record in the league and a 2nd round playoff loss, - only 2 epic playoff performances by Harden. Peasant stuff man. Better stick to our current plan of a whole lot of losing and nothing else to spare us the heartbreak and keep our April schedule free and clear
His individual success led to team success cause even I’ll admit he was that good during the regular season in his prime. Key word prime. Prime time was a long ass time ago and even then he still had the same faults. Now he’s an older, slower, more prone to injury 34 year old guy at the tail end of his career especially without the benefit of playing with the MVP where he got 40% of his assists mind you. If there’s any truth to the size and type of bag ($200M/4 years) that he’s looking for…. You’d be out of your MFing mind to pay him that or anywhere close to that. Signing him to any contract would be 1 step forward 2 steps backwards. Sign him to a long term max or close to it then that’s worse than all of CD’s worst signings combined.
There's options in between bringing Harden back and not another year of "all young players again"..... Too many folks believe we only have this offseason to solve the "playmaker" issue, which is just patently false.
