Its wild how he can be that accomplished as a player and yet his team accomplishments in the biggest moments were always marked by his disappointing play. To be as prolific a player statistically as so may of those Top 10 guys(Kareem, Shaq, Moses, Kobe, Jordan) and yet missing all the team success accolades - that is the real enigma of James Harden's legacy in the NBA. It's ironic how Houston's nemesis was the Utah Jazz and yet somehow we ended up the with the 2nd coming of Karl Malone - a similar heliocentric basketball savant who's longevity and durability put him in the top 10 of many career statistics who similarly was both hated by opposing fan bases and had a rep for shrinking when his team needed him the most.
He has been and still is a great regular season player. He is not a good playoff player, not because he chokes, but because his game does not translate to playoff basketball where holding grabbing and refs swallowing their whistles for all but their favorites continues. He would disrupt our ability to win a championship and to progress our youthful core toward a dynasty. Do not want. He is one of my favorite players of all time and think he has probably been screwed the worse by referees (and league and media) than any player in NBA history. He should have at least 3 MVPs.
I absolutely disagree. Who beat Durant led GSW? We are Scott Foster Game 7 from history being different. Toronto didn't beat **** with no Klay or Durant. Every comment against Harden is just emotional based on how he left. He gave us the greatest gift without even knowing it in that Brooklyn trade. The main criticism against Harden that is legitimate is that he is an ISO player. In Brooklyn for 16 games that was not the case. He has played the way he has in each situation because the golden plans of being surrounded by other stars fell apart. I wanted Durant last trade deadline because he was a discounted star. MOST people on this board were against it saying it will cost too much, too old, and blah blah blah and look stupid now. Same question as last season. What can the Rockets do right now to win a chip against a devastating OKC team? Pretend his name isn't Harden or add Kyrie to the list (injury history). $25M is sitting on the sidelines along with another $13-14M in a player that has never played for us. We need Reed to start at PG and that works well. What area of our team is weak? We are imbalanced at guard play and bench play. We cannot make our starting unit better. A great 6th man could enable us to devastate teams while our starters are out, lowering the wear and tear by not just nursing leads but expanding them against weak opposing 2nd units. FVV+DFS+2028 1st or LESS (multiple 2nds) gets it done if Harden wants to come here. This protects our 4 potential lottery picks in 2027 and 2029. Just like last time, we won't have space for the 2028 pick like we didn't really for the lotto pick this year. It works with our timeline and gives us that last use of FVV's contract like Dillon. We resign Tari and later Amen and are well set with assets when KD and Harden come off the books. I think we can resign them to cap friendly deals until they want to retire. They have a home now. Harden would not come here with this being his team. He would have to come here begging and submit to what we have. Him with Tari and Adams as a playoff team by themselves destroying the opposing 2nd teams will be a nightmare even for OKC. It's the equivalent of a supercharger and a twin turbo. Maybe Kyrie could do some of that but it is not his history and he would want to play with the starters. Reed's highest and best use is a combo of Stockton, Price, CP3, and Curry and developing the synergy of those skills so that Amen can be Amen. Tell me which option out there is better for us and the arbitrage works out best?
His stats are good this year and the clippers may be doing a fire sale. Wouldn’t mind adding him back for the right price
He knows he’ll never see that money again. I doubt he declines it and maybe Clippers just buy him out or trade to 3rd team and go full rebuild. I believe their 2027 pick is protected 1-5
yas pls. after tonight's blowout loss to the spazz, it is clear we need the homeless beard back. breh is the pure scorer we never had.
For sure, but if the Rockets had 5-6 championships, he would not be, I am sure there would be somebody surpassing or what do they call here, lapping him. The Rockets were not exactly showered with finals appearances after the Hakeem era.
If all it costs is Fred & DFS and a couple 2nds ..... I might think about it. But that isn't enough salary. The other problem is Fred ..... I don't know if opting into his final year now changes the bird rights situation or not.
I'm only in if we also trade for Westbrook as our 13th man and then beat OKC with Durant, Harden, and Westbrook on the roster
I am still into bringing him home. FVV/DFS/Conditional 1st rounder or two. Put top 10 protection on one and lotto on the other. Like DFS but since he hasn't played and we are adding an older player in Harden it makes sense. I do feel like we will have Tari receive an offer we are comfortable in matching. Sengun/Adams/Capela Smith Durant/Eason Amen/Holiday Harden/Reed
In the final part of the 4th win, put Adams, Durant, Unc, Harden and Brodie on the floor so their whole old team can beat the new one.
