James Harden’s taste in teams continues to evolve. After having his heart set on Brooklyn, Harden is now open to the Rockets trading him to Philadelphia (helmed by former Houston GM Daryl Morey), Milwaukee and Miami, according to league insider Shams Charania. The latter two are new arrivals on the 31-year-old’s expanding list of trade preferences. Based on the teams Harden has tapped as potential fits, it seems the former MVP’s highest priority is playing for a title contender. The Nets, Bucks, Heat and, to a lesser extent, the Sixers, each fit that criteria.
What those four also have in common is they’re not the Houston Rockets, the team Harden has spent most of his career with. Harden has carried Houston to the playoffs each season since joining the Rockets in 2012, though he hasn’t had much success there, only reaching the Conference Finals on two occasions. Both resulted in losses to Golden State.
The 6’5” guard, who recently turned down a mammoth, two-year, $103-million extension that would have made him the NBA’s highest-paid player, reportedly wasn’t enthused by Houston’s hiring of rookie coach Stephen Silas, which may be a factor in his desire to be moved. The disgruntled Harden was a late arrival to training camp, reporting to the team on Tuesday for mandatory COVID testing. Harden has begun individual work at the Rockets’ facility but has yet to take the floor with his teammates.
Landing a player of Harden’s elite caliber would help Milwaukee in its ongoing pursuit to keep reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is entering the final year of his contract. If the Bucks do join the Harden Sweepstakes, two-time All-Star Khris Middleton would seem to be their best trade chip. Had the Bucks known Harden would be available, they likely wouldn’t have traded three first-round picks for Jrue Holiday earlier this offseason.
Meanwhile, Heat star Jimmy Butler gave his seal of approval Thursday by liking a Bleacher Report post about Harden’s reported interest in Miami. When asked about it during his appearance on ESPN’s The Jump with Rachel Nichols, Jimmy Buckets was happy to elaborate. “I like James. He’s a friend of mine,” said Butler, commending Harden on his “well-nourished beard.” “I just want him to be happy.”
Butler, of course, knows all about NBA power dynamics, using whatever leverage he had to force trades out of both Chicago and Minnesota. Maybe he can offer Harden some pointers as the eight-time All-Star looks for an escape route out of Houston.
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