The Houston Rockets have already opened camp but James Harden remains a no-show. The 2018 NBA MVP was absent once more during the team’s Sunday workouts, missing some individual sessions as well.
Instead, Harden was spotted over in Las Vegas partying anew. He was captured in an Instagram story outside Drai’s nightclub at around midnight local time. This was despite the 31-year-old promising the Houston Rockets he would be returning “soon.”
Despite his continued absence, the Houston Rockets are not ready to give up on the eight-time All-Star. Though Harden shunned a big contract offer worth $50 million per season and requested for a trade, first-year head coach Stephen Silas is keeping the faith.
Monja Willis, James Harden's mother, speaks out on Instagram:
"He is doing the best for his career...He [is] ask[ing] for a chance to get a ring [and] that's it." pic.twitter.com/CrMvAZ9mE6 — Alec Sturm (@alec_sturm) December 7, 2020
After previously saying that they were giving “The Beard” some space, he now states that there is no timetable and that it is a setback. That statement alone is not good.
Harden was linked to a possible move to the Brooklyn Nets where he would reunite with friends Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. However, Durant batted that he never had any conversation with Harden about moving to Brooklyn. The two-time NBA champion admitted that he has heard of the rumors but believes these are made up.
Harden’s request to be traded came not long after Russell Westbrook asked for a trade too. The 2017 NBA MVP has already been shipped to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall. Harden allegedly preferred to have the five-time All-Star as his teammate.
Wall himself says that he and Harden have been communicating. He labeled those conversations as great but Harden has yet to report to the Rockets training center.
Also, there is that recent revelation by his mother, Monja Willis. She said that her son is doing what he thinks is best for his career – that of which is to win an NBA ring. Reading between the lines, it seems pretty clear that with the Rockets now rebuilding, seeing Harden win an NBA title this season is low to none.
So unless the rumored move to the Brooklyn Nets gains any ground, it is a toss-up on where Harden could play next. The Philadelphia 76ers are interested but that may depend on Rockets team owner Tillman Fertita.
Fertita is not to coy about dealing Harden to the Sixers because of the new President for Basketball Operations and former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey. It appears both did not part on good terms.
But if Harden continues to hold out, Fertita may want to reconsider that plan. He could end up with either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid plus future assets which Houston is pretty much looking for right now.
