https://marcstein.substack.com/p/please-nba-no-more-tampering-investigations What do the Houston Rockets think of the reports that Philadelphia's James Harden is interested in rejoining them if he decides to leave the 76ers as a free agent in the summer? The idea would seemingly hold little appeal to Houston given the unseemly manner in which Harden forced his exit via trade to Brooklyn in January 2021, his advancing age (33) and the presence of Jalen Green as the Rockets' standout young building block. Houston's rebuild, however, is taking shape s-l-o-w-l-y and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is widely presumed to be antsy to see his team reclaim a measure of relevance. You’ll note that no one from Clutch City has exactly rushed to rule it out. Harden holds a player option for next season after opting out of a $47.4 million salary to take a pay cut of nearly $15 million in a new two-year deal worth almost $69 million. The Sixers used the wiggle room that maneuvering provided to add P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr. and De'Anthony Melton to the roster. Of course, if Harden really bolts at season's end, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey will have lost the player he spent his first 15 months in Philly trying so hard to get.
Agreed, I was definitely referring to our own Houston pick in next season's 24' draft position, and disregarding the Brooklyn pick which has much worse odds of a lottery position or drafting a star player depending on circumstances. But having Harden for a few years makes sense. if he's willing to scale back his contact based on performance/the market as he ages, or possibly being the 6th man in later years, I'd be fine with him playing out his career here. As his game was always about skillset, IQ, and will age gracefully like CP3.
A Harden/Segun pick and roll could be amazing. If he were to come back he should keep the iso's down to a minimum. He should not expect to come back and play the same way he did the first time.
Give Harden 4 years 110 million with both player and team holding options for the 3rd and 4th year. He will, overall, be helpful to our young guys.
I would prefer we not sign him but it could work if he does not expect to return here to play iso ball again. If he were to return the team should definitely have options on the later years of the contract.
We have a weak coach, a team that lacks a leader, the worst thing you can do is bring in a guy who has consistently failed to lead any team he has ever been on, and have him pass on that lack of leadership as a way to success. Harden was great here, he had his run then he ****ed the franchise over.....you don't bring people like that back. DD
I agree. The thing about business and life is this... people want to eat. All about maximizing sales and revenue so no matter which way you flip the damn sandwich the bread will always come first.
McMahon had a very interesting podcast with lowe. He thinks the rockets are the ones leaking the rumour. Tillman is running out of patience with Stone and the Rockets are all in with bringing him back if he wants to comeback
Did he go into why the Rockets would leak that rumor, how does it benefit them? All in with bringing him back sounds like they would give something up to get him. Also, isnt that tampering? Dont get why the Rockets would intentionally leak something that can cost them fines and draft capital. Especially when the 76ers just went through an investigation for Harden and tampering this summer.
Just like they would prove tampering in any investigation. They do it all the time. https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-docks-...tampering-violations-200429652-200429233.html
McMahon said he thinks it might be the Rockets so it really is hearsay. This happens all the time. Agents and teams do it all the time.
But they always cherry pick on who they want to fine or investigate, I could be wrong but it was reported that the Heatles were plotting during that redeem team phase and made it happen couple seasons later but they were all under contract during the time they entertained the idea Its why these said leaks are like a two sided coin or mixing truth with falsehood, it could be for clickbait/daily content or it could have some truth to it But for most part they are anonymous or just gossip that is used by someone with credibility like a Woj etc who has enough Breaking News on his resume that most will take it as being true even though Woj is in the honey pot with those other hidden sources as well being used as the front man for those Casper sources Its similar to that ref that took the fall, they should have investigated all other refs because they all would be essentially guilty by association with a so called rogue ref who went to jail for doing what they all do
Zach lowe also stated harden is not seeking a multi year max deal. Just another 1 plus 1 deal with a player option like the one he just signed with Philly.He knows he ain’t getting a 4 or 5 year max. This is actually good for both sides
The way he forced himself out of town, hurting our leverage, after all we did to cater to him, really upset me. But I lost my grudge against Harden a while ago. I didn’t want to see him and Morey win in Philly. And if they do, I’m sure Harden won’t come back to Houston. But if Philly falters again, and Harden wants to com back, given the current state of the team, and given his ability to attract other top free agents, in a year we have a ton of cap space, and need to start winning…yeah. It should be a viable thought.
zach lowe is a harden hater if harden keeps playing like he has been since coming back from injury, a team will offer him a max
Zach stated harden himself prefers to have a second year flexibility option. I don’t think he was hating
