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The Houston
Rockets tried to convince James Harden to stay by importing John
Wall from the Washington Wizards.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, the maneuver doesn't seem to have
worked.
Harden, the three-time defending NBA scoring leader and a former
league MVP, has continued to ask for a trade out of Houston,
according to ESPN.
According to Monday's report, after Harden arrived late to
Rockets training camp last week he "expressed to Rockets
ownership and management his intention to be professional and
engaged upon joining the team."
But he still wants a "fresh start" elsewhere, the report said.
The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly talked
with the Rockets about trades. Brooklyn would be able to reunite
Harden with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin
Durant, who has repeatedly shot down reports that he and Harden
have discussed Harden's joining Brooklyn since training camp
opened earlier this month.
Harden has not practiced while going through the NBA's COVID-19
protocol, but if he passes his sixth consecutive test Monday he
could join the team. New Rockets coach Stephen Silas said Harden
will make his preseason debut Tuesday against the San Antonio
Spurs.
"We'll figure out the minutes (Tuesday)," Silas said.
Silas said he and Harden have "talked basketball," adding that
Harden will have to be asked about trade speculation.
"I'm a basketball coach, he's a basketball player," Silas told
reporters. "As far as his commitment to what we're doing
basketball-wise, he was right there."
The Rockets traded guard Russell Westbrook to Washington for
Wall just before the start of camp. Westbrook's one-year teaming
with Harden didn't pay off, as the Rockets lost in the second
round of the Western Conference playoffs in five games to the
Los Angeles Lakers.
Wall missed all of last season and hasn't played a
regular-season NBA game since Dec. 26, 2018 because of knee,
foot and Achilles surgeries. By all accounts he's looked strong
in camp, and in his preseason debut with the Rockets he had 13
points, nine assists and five rebounds in a 125-104 win over the
Chicago Bulls.
After he scored 21 points in a 104-91 loss to the Bulls on
Sunday, Wall sounded hopeful Harden would stick around.
"I think me and James can be a heck of a combination," Wall
said.
(Field Level Media)
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