[McMahon and Shelbourne] Harden’s representatives gauged the Rockets’ interest in him following the LA Clippers’ 6-21 start…Once again, though, the Rockets decided against it, despite the team’s void at point guard.
The next opportunity came this season, when Harden’s representatives gauged the Rockets’ interest in him following the LA Clippers’ 6-21 start.
After VanVleet’s injury, a reunion with their former point guard made a lot more sense, they thought. And Houston was closer to contention after trading for Durant in the offseason, and Harden was still playing at a high level.
Once again, though, the Rockets decided against it, despite the team’s void at point guard.
As fondly as they still regarded Harden, there was a wariness about how he would affect the development of Sengun, Sheppard and Thompson.
“We’re not really looking for a heliocentric player, as great as James still is,” one team source said. “We want to develop Reed, we want to develop Amen and we want the ball in Alpy’s hands.”
As another said, “We weren’t going to put the ball in [Harden’s] hands, so why would you trade for James if you’re not going to give him the ball?”
That decision reverberated for the rest of the season and throughout the first-round playoff series, as all three young players matched tantalizing moments with inexplicable ones, where poor decision-making or shooting led directly to losses.