Daily Beast: Harden vs. Fertitta - Who is in the right?

I am always amazed by how people would even hint that pro athletes are slaves because they could not choose where they work. Of course they can choose where they work. They can choose flipping burgers for McDonald's if they don't like their bosses. Nobody is going to hunt them down and lynch them for doing that.

 

I agree with some others who doubt this is a political thing or anything to do with Fertitta's character. Harden wants to win a championship to secure his legacy, realizes the chances of doing that here are slim, and so he wants to force his way onto a team that has a good shot of winning a championship.

I don't think Harden is doing himself any favors by refusing to play for the Rockets, who seem to have gone above and beyond to accommodate him since he's been here. At least he should wait until his contract is closer to expiring before forcing himself out in this manner.

 

The reason Harden wants to leave is simple. He no longer believes that the Rockets organization puts him in the best position to win a championship.

Harden trusted and believed in Daryl Morey and to a lesser extent MDA. He watched as both left the organization because they no longer believed in the leadership at the top of the team. What kind of message does that send Harden? He isn't a stupid man. He has without question spoken to Morey and MDA. He also heard Russell Westbrook criticize the organization and asked to be dealt.

The people that Harden is surrounded by in large part are active supporters of BLM and are very critical of Trump supporters like Fertitta. I am sure they have expressed that to Harden.

Then you have someone like PJ Tucker that is very bitter over how the organization has dealt with him...... same with Trevor Ariza. These are people Harden has a relationship.

Last, you have the coaching hire........... if you look at it from the lens of Harden, you can see why he wants out. It doesn't make it any easier for fans, but a lot of things have gone bad to lead us where we are now.