You couldn't pay me enough to root for a team with James Harden on it. Unless they were playing the L*kers.
why would the 76ers want to pair Harden and Simmons? It just seems like one of the most awkward fits imaginable.
I feel bad for the Rockets. Harden should have good trade value but they are in a place where they can ask what they feel he is worth but if nobody is offering, they have a discontented guy playing or doing whatever. With respect to Harden, it is a buyers, not a sellers market. When you are under the gun your power in negotiations is limited. Would love to see him have to play out is contract in Houston being unhappy and a cancer in their locker room. Is that evil?
I agree, maybe the word coming out of Philly that Simmons is untouchable is just to drive up his value. If I'm Philly and the Rockets think they are getting Simmons and a first rounder, let alone three first rounders and the talent it will take to match salaries... I'd be publicly saying "hell no" too.
Why does James harden even have a saying where he goes? He's locked up in contract for three more years send this fool to Cleveland!
It's because he's a star player with an attitude that makes it so teams are weary of him being in a situation he doesn't want to be in. What is he worth if he sits or half asses it? Ultimately any player that is crucial to a team's success has this power. If they want a trade they can make it happen and if they want to dictate the kind of places they want to go, they can make that happen too because no team wants to pay top dollar for half the player they should be getting. Showing up late and not worrying about the NBA's COVID rules was just him showing the Rockets that he is serious about either not playing or phoning it in and that they better trade him. It also sends that same clear message to teams he doesn't want to go to, that he won't compromise his stance for them either. Of course the Rockets or another team could call his bluff but I for one think Harden is the type of guy to follow through with it. It makes me not want him to ever be on our team because it's symptomatic of his me first attitude but it doesn't make me resent him in general. If a person can make it happen they should choose what they do for a living and where they do it. I don't see that any differently for professional athletes.
Harden averages 78 games/season and plays pretty heavy minutes. Maybe coming into camp chonky is normal for him. I wouldn't be too concerned.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30528130/james-harden-houston-rockets-breaking-point I was in the "even though I despise him, OF COURSE you try to get a package together to get James Harden" camp, but reading this article made me realize that even Dame couldn't rein in this manchild.
