The Houston Rockets put everything they had into this season with their small ball lineup, and al they got from it was an unexpected seven game series against the OKC Thunder and a 4-game losing streak against the Lakers after winning Game 1.
Trade talk surrounding Houston Rockets star James Harden have now begun after collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report spoke to an NBA executive who suggested that trading Harden might be a feasible option.
“Everything should be on the table, including moving Harden,” he said.
NBC Sports NBA insider Tom Haberstroh echoed the same sentiments:
“I wouldn’t put it past [Daryl Morey] to consider moving James Harden,” he said.
John Hollinger of The Athletic and the former Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies had this to say:
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“Hanging over all of this is Harden’s future,” he wrote.
“Nobody is talking about this yet, but Harden can become a free agent at the end of 2021-22. Paired with an aging, asset-free roster and an owner unwilling to spend on better help, when does he start looking at greener pastures?
“And if the Rockets are stuck with a dim future roster-wise, isn’t cashing in their Harden stock about the only way out?”
The Rockets are pretty stuck with their key players in Harden, Westbrook, and Eric Gordon, so the small ball thing will be happening once again next season.
