Tucker is a very, very good role player. To see them forging ahead ... you gotta give a lot of credit to Coach Silas and the coaching staff.". Harden has averaged 24 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds per game since the trade, and Brooklyn is 5-2. Why the Trade Benefits the Houston Rockets. Since the trade, however, the Rockets are on the upswing, and that is especially true in the more recent past. This is a roster more than a single piece away from contention, and pairing Simmons’s max contract with John Wall’s would have significantly dampened Houston’s financial flexibility in the coming years. An offseason of speculation followed, and in July, a blockbuster was struck. Facing a pick deficit, acquiring draft capital for Harden in January became the most prudent move. Houston can now dangle the Nets’ picks in trade negotiations throughout the 2020s, with the picks and swaps in 2024–27 potentially holding significant value. Harden is averaging 26 points and 11.2 assists per game in a Brooklyn uniform. It may not be the prettiest product at the moment, but Houston can now at least bottom out, shoot for some lottery luck and move forward with a fairly clean cap sheet and a treasure chest of picks. - Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 2, 2021 After starting the season 3-6, the Rockets have now gone 7-3 in. Stone is now betting on a … But those moves aren’t what will shape the franchise’s next decade. By Greg Patuto. J. Secondly, the Rockets … Rather, they have used the media to do their bidding. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The Houston Rockets, who had only nine available players Thursday, "came together" and beat the Spurs 109-105 in their first game since James Harden was traded. The Rockets’ James Harden era is over. Here's the Rockets' reported asking price for a James Harden trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. Why the Trade Benefits the Houston Rockets. Houston's stars are performing up to their capability, including Victor Oladipo, who was acquired from the Indiana Pacers in the three-team Harden deal. They have traded the 31-year-old to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal, the Nets announced on Thursday. It's called defense – and it has led to a six-game win streak in H-Town. The Rockets have won 6 straight and officially have a better record than the Nets since the Harden trade. Another change: Rockets were 26th in passes per game before the trade, second since. A backcourt of John Wall and Victor Oladipo – that's actually one of the better backcourts in the league. That was proving difficult to do with Harden's trade demands hanging over the franchise, and the team got off to a 3-6 start, ranking 17th in offensive rating (109.2) and 21st in defensive rating (111.1), bringing their overall net rating to -2.0, which was 20th in the NBA. I just thought the way he went at accomplished players was wrong. Close. Eric Gordon ain't no joke. The Rockets dealt Paul to Oklahoma City in exchange for Russell Westbrook, additionally giving the Thunder first-round picks in 2024 and 2026 and pick swaps in 2021 and 2025. There has been a rare sighting in Houston since the James Harden trade. It’s unlikely any of Brooklyn’s future picks (unprotected firsts in 2022, 2024 and 2026, plus swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027) results in drafting a player of Simmons’s caliber, though would acquiring Philadelphia’s point guard really serve as an effective reset button for the Rockets? The Houston Rockets defeated the OKC Thunder 136-106 on Monday night. However, Brooklyn gave up a bunch of young players that didn’t come to Houston. On Tuesday, former New York Knicks coach David Fizdale discussed on ESPN's "The Jump" how impressive the Rockets' win streak has been. The 2020 NBA Draft will take place Wednesday and the trade … They rank behind only the Los Angeles Clippers in this timespan. There were times Harden showed the angry side players see on occasion at practice or after games once Stone let him know he would trade him only on the Rockets… The options for the Houston Rockets in a potential James Harden trade are limited since they don’t want to deal him to the Western Conference. The James Harden trade was easily the biggest transaction this NBA season. The Houston Rockets continued to roll on Monday night as they blew out the OKC Thunder 136-106 and pick up their sixth straight win. After trading away Harden, they had three losses in their first four games, and their record was a miserable 5-9. Christian Wood, I don't think he's an All-Star, but he's putting up All-Star numbers.". Harden is a franchise player in every sense of the word. This came after his trade demand became public record . Such a situation would be a relative disaster. First off, neither Harden nor his camp has gone on record publicly to demand a trade. All Rights Reserved. The Rockets used a pair of first-round picks along with Jeremy Lamb and Kevin Martin to acquire Harden nearly a decade ago. Their last common opponent were the Thunder who the Nets beat by 22 and the Rockets beat by 30. AEW announced two big moves on Wednesday, including the addition of a third hour of TV on TNT. Harden has arguably been the best player in basketball since joining Brooklyn, and if the Nets seize the East’s top seed, he’ll have a legitimate case as the MVP. just now. Colin Cowherd breaks it all down. The short-handed Houston Rockets were good enough Thursday night to win their first game after James Harden's trade request was granted. Harden previously was late to arrive to training camp, and then after the Rockets' 117-100 loss to the Lakers Tuesday night, Harden told reporters that the Rockets … Speaking of Harden, there’s been increasing chatter regarding his MVP case in recent weeks, and rightfully so. Houston has a 7-3 record since Harden's departure. When the Harden trade happened, the Rockets were 3 … Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum and Rodions Kurucs, who the Rockets … The Houston Rockets suffered another tough loss on Tuesday, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-100, in the Toyota Center. As for the Oladipo trade, the Rockets are now in a position to retain Kelly Olynyk as a frontcourt piece in free agency, and they could also swap their Brooklyn pick with the Heat in 2022. "They had more turmoil going on than any other team in the league by far. It takes a certain level of team to justify making a move for a superstar that could leave in a few years— further limiting the amount of potential suitors. It would be a similar template to when they flipped Brooklyn’s Caris LeVert to Indiana as an offshoot of the blockbuster James Harden trade, which is how Houston ended up with Oladipo in the first place. BEFORE JAN. 1 … So many things swirling around them. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these. The Rockets have now won six straight games and are 7-3 since trading James Harden. He’s closing in on the top 10 in PER, and he already sits No. It has been a while since the Rockets have held a solid top 10 … Superstar trade demands are nothing new, though Harden’s exit from Houston was particularly unseemly. The trade now serves as a demarcation point in Houston’s slide out of contention. Houston had a problem on its hands through the first three weeks of the season. The Houston Rockets continued to roll … Maybe he should have been more proactive in finding a home for Tucker. Harden skipped training camp and flouted COVID-19 protocols as he jet-set around the country, and he quickly undermined first-year head coach Stephen Silas upon arriving in Houston. Stricker said on Wednesday that Woods's "spirits are great," as he recovers from a February car accident. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs feature deep soccer connections, Anthony Edwards becoming a bright spot for last-place Timberwolves. Gordon’s offensive rating during the period is 113.1 points per 100 possessions while his defensive rating during that span is an impressive 102.8 points per 100 possessions. "I definitely think of [the draft picks] as trade assets, too," Stone said in last week’s press conference. Rockets beat Spurs in first game since Harden trade Sterling Brown took over James Harden’s spot in the starting lineup Harden was sent to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team blockbuster trade "I’m on the record saying that I thought Houston could be a great team if Harden just bought in and showed up to training camp in shape. Although the team's offensive rating has remained 17th in the league (110.4), the Rockets have led the NBA in defensive rating in that 10-game span (102.6), which has brought their net rating to +7.8, fourth in the NBA. But there is actually more to the Rockets' about-face than simply the absence of a disgruntled Harden. “One of your colleagues texted me the day after the trade and they said they would evaluate me in 2027,” Stone told McMahon. Marty Fenn; March 10, 2021 . Since the Harden trade, Gordon is averaging 19.7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. But as for the regular-season race, Harden’s eight shameful games in Houston need to be taken into consideration. Harden has two guaranteed seasons left on his four-year, $171.1 million contract with Houston, which includes a player option for the 2022-23 campaign. The Rockets stood as a fringe Finals contender just one year ago. The Rockets have four players averaging at least 17.5 points per game – Wall, Oladipo, Wood and Eric Gordon – with Wood leading the way at 23.3. Houston made 11 three-pointers in the first quarter, tying an NBA record. I get it. The Rockets now have all the incentive to sell. Recent years have featured a serious push toward the Larry O’Brien trophy, with each move geared toward improving the present roster. Nadkarni: Should the Warriors embrace the pick-and-roll? The Rockets waded through the NBA wilderness for years prior to the Harden trade, with no discernible path back to contention. Rockets have a better record than the Knicks , they have a bad owner too. It opted to acquire Victor Oladipo rather than Caris LeVert, and the subsequent trade of Oladipo didn’t net any promising young pieces. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Rockets begin what could be an arduous rebuild, acquire Victor Oladipo rather than Caris LeVert, Harden is a franchise player in every sense of the word, dealt Paul to Oklahoma City in exchange for Russell Westbrook, Brooklyn’s disastrous deal with the Celtics. Paul seemed to have seriously lost a step in the last year of his Rockets tenure, and shooting efficiency be damned, Westbrook logged a truly dominant three-month stretch in Houston before the COVID-19 crisis began. - Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 2, 2021 After starting the season 3-6, the Rockets have now gone 7-3 in. By Admin | Betting | 02 February 2021. Houston has a 7-3 record since Harden's departure. Stone is now betting on a bevy of draft picks to avoid that same fate. As the losses mount, so has the criticism of Stone. The man that carried the Houston Rockets for the better part of a decade was sent to the Brooklyn Nets for a package where the Rockets got a bunch of first-round picks back. Which NBA stars are facing the most pressure during the playoffs? To understand where the Rockets are going, it’s important to understand where they’ve been. "They are the one thing that are commoditized in the NBA. Here is how they plan to get back to contention. "He treated them like they were garbage.". Their other two marquee deals were met with greater criticism. The Joker's worthiness for MVP has been hotly debated. As of now, both players are still on their current teams but that could change soon. Tucker. But perhaps the critics aren’t seeing the bigger picture at play. Harden has been an All-NBA first-team selection six times since 2013–14. Welcome to the Morning Shootaround, where every weekday you’ll get a fresh, topical column from one of SI.com’s NBA writers: Howard Beck on Mondays, Chris Mannix on Tuesdays, Michael Pina on Wednesdays, Chris Herring on Thursdays and Rohan Nadkarni on Fridays. Juventus and Atalanta meet for the right to lift Italy's domestic cup on Wednesday, May 19. The shift in approach has the Rockets tied with the Portland Trailblazers for eighth in the Western Conference, at 10-9, and just 1.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets in fourth. Did Jayson Tatum's 50-point performance in Tuesday's play-in game win boost him into the NBA's superstar category? Stone said critics need to be patient in examining what the team got in return for its superstar. It has been noted that Rockets have the best defensive rating while the Nets have the worst defensive rating before tonight's games. play. It takes a certain level of team to justify making a move for a superstar that could leave in a few years— further limiting the amount of potential suitors. "I'm so happy for the Houston Rockets. But even considering Harden’s greatness, there is one move Houston’s brain trust would like to have back if given a time machine and a mulligan. Multiple teams have called up the Houston Rockets since NBA rumors suggested a James Harden trade could potentially happen. The team beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-101 on Thursday night, improving their record to 5-3 since moving Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Although the team's offensive rating has remained 17th in the league (110.4), the Rockets have led … And with Oladipo and John Wall also in and out of the lineup, Houston has since stumbled to the third-worst record in the league. Not only is the team having fun, but they are also delivering results. He remains one of the greatest scorers in league history, and he could very well win Finals MVP this summer. It's not just Harden's lack of defensive abilities, either. In the five games since he sat out with a sprained ankle, Harden … At this point, consider it solved. Since the deal, the Rockets (13-32) have endured a historic 20-game losing streak and entered Monday with the Western Conference’s second-worst record. Perhaps Stone made a miscalculation in choosing Oladipo over LeVert. The Nets are 25-9 since the trade for James Harden, the second-best record in the NBA in that stretch, two games behind Utah. With an overall record of 11-22, the injury-plagued squad are currently on a 12-game losing skid. Harden (15.0) 2015-16: NBA: Houston Rockets* 41: 41.500: 4th of 5: 0.34: 97.6: … The Rockets have now won six straight games and are 7-3 since trading James Harden. It was an especially satisfying victory for a team that heard Harden, the longtime franchise cornerstone, publicly declare that the Rockets were inadequate and couldn't "be fixed" after a lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, when the 2018 MVP was aware that trade talks had intensified and a deal could be done soon. Much like he did in 2012—and like Collin Morikawa did last year—Rory McIlroy hopes to channel the rare feeling of confidence it takes and end his major drought. According to Wall, the explanation for the turnaround is pretty simple. The comment was made largely in jest, followed by a chuckle from Daryl Morey’s successor. The short-handed Houston Rockets were good enough Thursday night to win their first game after James Harden's trade request was granted.. The NBA playoffs are starting to heat up, and Wednesday night's big game gives you a chance to win absolutely for free. Owner Tilman Fertitta has shown resistance to the idea of a full-blown tank, and even with the right free-agency decisions, this isn’t more than a fringe playoff team at best. Ever since the Harden trade, stars such as Victor Oladipo, John Wall, and most importantly, Christian Wood have put in better effort towards defense. Tyler Adams hasn't played since April 25 and may not be available for the U.S. in the Nations League final four. Fox Sports™ and © 2021 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Trotting out Simmons with this roster would likely result in a fringe play-in team, landing the Rockets firmly in NBA purgatory. But there’s no guarantee the Nets’ core is still intact in the latter stages of the 2020s. It remains to be seen which teams could emerge as a dark-horse suitor fitting that description since the minimum compensation to get it done is massive. With Harden and Westbrook aboard, the Rockets played their way to a 44-28 overall record in the 2019-20 regular season, earning a No. Rockets Win Sixth Straight Game, Are 7-3 Since James Harden Trade. Houston made 11 three-pointers in the first quarter, tying an NBA record. The Rockets have been allowing just 102.8 points per 100 possessions, the lowest mark in the league over the entire nine-game span since the trade. With the Rockets favoring to send James Harden to the Eastern Conference in a potential trade, it may not be to a team on his preferred list. The Rockets gave him too much control,” the source said, via Mazzeo. The Rockets currently boast the second-best defensive rating in the NBA after trading the ‘Beard’ away. The Houston Rockets defeated the OKC Thunder 136-106 on Monday night. P.J. John Wall, Oladipo, and Christian Wood (or WOW as some Rockets fans are calling them) are shining offensively and setting a strong defensive tone. But he just might be better than a few previous greats who won the award. John Wall ain't no joke. If it’s disrespectful to hit a home run you don’t need, why keep playing? Senior expert Michael Fabiano provides his top 200 rankings for dynasty leagues. Since the trade on Jan. 14, the Rockets haven't just been better. After a half-decade of cashing in assets in pursuit of a championship, Houston is taking the long road back to contention. A few games after trading James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in mid-January, the Rockets briefly surged back into the playoff picture, winning six straight games to get to 10-9. Seldom does a franchise comes out victorious when trading away an iconic player in the middle of his prime, but so far, the Houston Rockets appear to be benefitting from trading "The Beard" to the Brooklyn Nets. Houston made 11 three-pointers in the first quarter, tying an NBA record. ET … Broussard also gave props to the Rockets for bouncing back after Harden forced his way out of town. Should the Warriors embrace the pick-and-roll? With a player of his caliber, not selling out for a championship is almost irresponsible. As he breaks down Wednesday's action, Sammy P is all-in on Steph Curry props. The Houston Rockets were apparently thrown for a loop when the James Harden trade demand became public record earlier in November. The Rockets have bottomed out since the Harden deal, losing 20 straight games at one point and falling into a tie for the league’s second-worst record. by. The Rockets have won 6 straight and officially have a better record than the Nets since the Harden trade. Why the struggling restaurant industry may have played a role in the Rockets trading James Harden Last Updated: Jan. 14, 2021 at 11:07 a.m. Land in top four, and Houston can add a blue-chip prospect alongside Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Miss out on the top four, and the pick goes to Oklahoma City. Add to your favorites to get information about games, news and more. Posted by. (CNN)The Houston Rockets are moving on from franchise superstar James Harden. Houston didn’t exactly get a significant return for P.J. ... Knicks, Julius Randle celebrate franchise's first postseason trip since 2013 . FOX Sports NBA analyst Chris Broussard weighed in on Houston's reformed roster. Posted by NBA Analysis Network 2021-01-09. With five 50-win seasons since 2013–14, it’s hard to criticize Houston’s aggressive maneuvering in the Harden era. Stone & Co. have come under considerable fire for their deals in recent months. I'm not mad at Harden for what he did. John Wall and the new-look Houston Rockets are coming off their fourth win in a row, the fifth win overall since the James Harden trade.. We should look to players who logged a full season (hello, Nikola Jokić) when making our pick for MVP. The situation isn’t exactly akin to Brooklyn’s disastrous deal with the Celtics given the age of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Harden's 36.1 points per game in the 2018-19 season are a franchise record. Last Updated: 8th December, 2020 17:05 IST James Harden's Mother Confirms His Trade Request To Rockets, Defends His Behaviour On IG Amid multiple trade rumours, James Harden's mother chose to defend her son in a lengthy Instagram post, also confirmed his trade request rumours. "Right now, Houston looks like they could make the playoffs. But the additional picks and swaps sent to Oklahoma City could prove debilitating to the Rockets’ roster-building in the coming years. With an overall record of 11-22, the injury-plagued squad are currently on a 12-game losing skid. The Rockets have now won six straight games and are 7-3 since trading James Harden. Despite the early-season drama, the Rockets have been getting it done on the defensive end. Yet the joke was revealing as Stone and the Rockets begin what could be an arduous rebuild. Brooklyn’s new leading man has been downright dominant since joining the Nets in mid-January, leading the Nets to the East’s second-best record despite Kevin Durant’s extended absence. He had to go rogue to get out of Houston. … Oladipo and Wall are both playing like they have something to prove after returning from major injuries, and the entire team is playing hard.". Yes 42 vote(s) 59.2% No 29 vote(s) ... Dolan has not gone against a GM and pushed a trade. Since then, the … Houston was playing its first game since sending Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team blockbuster trade Wednesday. Rockets general manager Rafael Stone reflected on the James Harden trade in a press conference last week, noting it wasn’t fair to judge Houston’s return on its blockbuster deal until at least 2030. Vote. He’s logged five top-three MVP finishes, and if you ask those in Houston’s front office, he should have at least four MVPs by now. Since then, the Nets are 34-15, while the Rockets are 7-45. © 2021 ABG-SI LLC. the 10 games since the Harden trade, establishing a new identity on both ends of the floor. The Rockets have now won six straight games and are 7-3 since trading James Harden. But since then, they have clicked well, and are currently 10-9 after a brilliant six-game winning streak. Stone also noted the flexibility provided by Brooklyn’s package aside from salary cap concerns. RELATED: Best trade package 76ers could offer Rockets for James Harden. The Rockets, who had only nine available players due to injuries and the pending arrivals of newcomers, capped what first-year coach Stephen Silas called "a crazy 48 hours" with a 109-105 road win over the San Antonio … 6 in win shares. Harden said himself when he left, the the people he trusted most were Morey and morey had said despite harden preferring Westbrook, he got the go to keep buildong this team. You got guys trying to reboot their career, you bring in Oladipo late ... And all that time, the Harden stuff was hanging over them. Since Harden and Morey left the team, Houston have been struggling big time. With the Rockets favoring to send James Harden to the Eastern Conference in a potential trade, it may not be to a team on his preferred list. The Nets are 25-9 since the trade for James Harden, the second-best record in the NBA in that stretch, two games behind Utah. Get more from National Basketball Association. Christian Wood is playing great basketball. John Wall and the new-look Houston Rockets are coming off their fourth win in a row, the fifth win overall since the James Harden trade. What to Do About James Harden’s MVP Candidacy? by. Rockets draft picks after James Harden trade. Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Rockets would like to take whatever assets they get for trading Victor Oladipo and turn those into Gordon. He is shooting 45.1% from the field and 38.8% from deep with a true shooting percentage of 58.8%. Now that’s not exactly the type of blue-chip piece Houston hoped to acquire for Oladipo, but they still received some modicum of value nonetheless. Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer outlined what he has seen from the Rockets this season. But I didn't like him disrespecting his teammates the way he did. The Houston Rockets continued to roll on Monday night as they blew out the OKC Thunder 136 … While swapping Oladipo in for Harden … The @HoustonRockets cruised to a 136-106 victory over the @okcthunder on Monday … But Stone & Co. are comfortable with their returns for both Tucker and Oladipo. Houston Rockets Create New Three-Pointers Franchise Record Despite Departure of James Harden Published 02/01/2021, 11:29 PM EST Jan 26, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard John Wall (1) reacts after making a three point basket against the Washington Wizards during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Nets. Some viewed Ben Simmons as a better asset than seven years of pick control from the Nets. They’re anything but now, with few pieces you can consider as future building blocks. Can the Warriors force the Lakers to the brink? Houston’s future will largely be dictated by what comes of Brooklyn's picks, and more importantly, the results of the 2021 lottery. Stone said injuries played a part in the collapse, as well as the lack of a foundation after so many years of making short-term moves in pursuit of a title. The Rockets, who … The Harden trade could eventually pay huge dividends for the Rockets, who received draft capital from Brooklyn over the next seven years. Rockets' Christian Wood calls Shaq 'a casual' following impressive win in first game since James Harden trade Houston pulled off an upset … The Houston Rockets, who had only nine available players Thursday, "came together" and beat the Spurs 109-105 in their first game since James Harden was traded. Nets star James Harden’s biggest change since Rockets trade. Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets in 4-team megadeal sending Caris LeVert to Indiana Pacers . They’ve had a tough time since Harden was traded Jan. 14 and haven’t won since Feb. 4. Although the team lacks a bona fide, MVP-caliber player such as Harden, the Rockets have made up for it by becoming a well-oiled machine, rather than a superstar-driven franchise. Yet despite Harden’s brilliance, it still feels a bit, well, unseemly to give him the 2020–21 MVP. The Rockets (7-3) now have a better record than the Nets (6-3) since the Harden Trade. Houston made 11 three-pointers in the first quarter, tying an NBA record. Since the Harden trade Rockets: - 6-3 record - Best defensive rating in NBA Nets: - 6-3 record - Worst defensive rating in NBA pic.twitter.com/wnRPvpC5PF — StatMuse (@statmuse) February 1, 2021. Harden has seen an increase in his free throw rate (from 0.52 to 0.56), but every other Rocket is getting to the line less often than he did (or than his ’15-16 counterpart did) last season. The Rockets drew largely mixed reviews for their decision to choose Brooklyn’s mountain of picks over a potential Simmons package. The Rockets have bottomed out since the Harden deal, losing 20 straight games at one point and falling into a tie for the league’s second-worst record. The Rockets, who had only nine available players due to injuries and the pending arrivals of newcomers, capped what first-year coach Stephen Silas called "a crazy 48 hours" with a 109-105 road win over the San Antonio Spurs . 3 Months ago, a user named u/LiveLoveLonzo made a post on how the Rockets had a better record than the Nets ever since the Harden trade. The Chris Paul era ended in the spring of 2019, with Harden cryptically noting the change that needed to be made in order for Houston to finally break through in the Western Conference. Christian Wood had 27 points and 15 rebounds and the Houston Rockets rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-105 on Thursday night in their first NBA game since trading … Read More the 10 games since the Harden trade, … Monaco and PSG play for France's domestic cup title on Wednesday, May 19. DeMarcus Cousins has done things in this league. Rockets' Christian Wood calls Shaq 'a casual' following impressive win in first game since James Harden trade Houston pulled off an upset win over the Spurs without multiple key players . ... He’s gotten high-level guys traded. Rockets superstar James Harden … Before shipping Harden out East, the Rockets were trying to integrate new additions John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and Christian Wood into new head coach Stephen Silas' system. The Heat are suddenly the team no one wants to face, Giannis is back in the NBA MVP discussion, Buyouts are warping the NBA's competitive landscape. Houston pressed reset after trading away superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn in multi-team deal. The team beat the Portland Trail Blazers 104-101 on Thursday night, improving their record to 5-3 since moving Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. … The Nets are 21-5 when two players from among Harden… Nets star James Harden’s biggest change since Rockets trade. The short-handed Houston Rockets were good enough Thursday night to win their first game after James Harden's trade request was granted. Swapping Paul for Westbrook isn’t an indefensible move in a vacuum. Everybody values first-round picks, and the better the picks are, the higher the value.". Another change: Rockets were 26th in passes per game before the trade, second since. So I’m buying how good they look now. Herring: Nikola Jokić has been the MVP all along, Pina: The Heat are suddenly the team no one wants to face, Mannix: Giannis is back in the NBA MVP discussion, Beck: Buyouts are warping the NBA's competitive landscape. The options for the Houston Rockets in a potential James Harden trade are limited since they don’t want to deal him to the Western Conference. The Rockets waded through the NBA wilderness for years prior to the Harden trade, with no discernible path back to contention. James Harden struggled in January, but has been better since Clint Capela's last game with the Rockets on Jan. 29 while being Houston's second-leading scorer.
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