James Harden’s situation at the Houston Rockets seems anything but comfortable. We learned weeks ago that the MVP had asked to leave the Texas franchise, which in turn triggered the rumor of a possible transfer to the Brooklyn Nets, which would be his favorite destination. It did not happen. Time has passed and with the avalanche of information from the draft and the subsequent free agency, it had been somewhat forgotten that his continuity with what has been his team since 2012 is not at all clear; so much so that the squad has started with the first phase of training and he has not.
Why? Well, everything seems to be motivated because days ago he went to the birthday party of rapper Lil ‘Baby, he reports TMZ. To be exact, it would be Thursday, December 3, the date on which Harden would have been present at the event; And yes, it completely breaks with the protocol established by the NBA for players regarding COVID-19. The League informed the teams that the players had to appear in the markets between November 28 and 30 to begin with the daily tests for coronavirus and to quarantine themselves at home, a situation that could only be broken to go to the facilities of the equipment (more tests), individual training or essential activities (buying food, taking the children to school …). Harden has not complied. He himself shared on Instagram images of the party in Atlanta, in which he was not wearing a mask.
Thus we come to the just concluded weekend. Houston was scheduled for individual training at the Toyota Center. There they waited for James Harden. It did not appear. According ESPN, the player reportedly informed management that he will inform them soon about his return to training. And all this while his new coach, Stephen Silas, emphasizes that he did not know he was going to miss and that he has not communicated with his star for a long time.
The truth is that Silas has not helped to lower the tension either. In his speech to the media, he first said that he wants La Barba to be an essential part of the team, but later he was hesitant when asked if Harden was focused on playing with the Rockets.
“I want it here and I want it to be a big part of what we are building. I’m looking forward to training him and for him to be part of good training sessions like the one we just had with a group of guys who are working hard on both ends of the pitch and who have good feelings about it. ” That was going well, but when they questioned him about his star’s commitment …
“That is a question you will have to ask him when he arrives. We are looking forward to having you here and starting your individual training. Once I’m here, obviously the best communication for me would be face-to-face communication, not the text message or the phone or any other means, ”he concludes.
That Harden is not with the team right now does not mean that he is not preparing for the season that begins on December 22. As Marc Stein points out from The New York Times, Harden could be seen in several individual workouts at the University of Houston before marching on Atlanta. Could the Rockets be tougher on their player? Sure, but as Silas himself emphasizes, they are giving him space in what seems like a strategy so that he finally decides that he wants to stick with them. And by the way, PJ Tucker has not started for now with individual training for the COVID-19 protocol, although he has been with his teammates at the Toyota Center.
Wall awaits you
Here is one of the elements that can bring Harden back to the herd willingly. Houston closed the transfer of Russell Westbrook to acquire John Wall and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN It would have been a wise decision, since La Barba prefers to have the former Washington Wizards player by his side. About this possible duo of All-Stars in the Rockets quintet, Wall himself has spoken, who claims to see his new partner with the intention of continuing in the team.
“We’ve had a great conversation,” Wall says to later emphasize that he is “sure” that Harden wants to play with Houston in the upcoming season. In addition, he thinks they will be in good harmony. “We have been on the same page since I was trespassed and I came here.” Of course John Wall must be positive. After ten years he has left the Wizards – his only team so far – to live a new beginning in Texas, and all of them after 24 months without being able to play in the NBA due to injury. Starting with Harden would be great news for him.
(Photograph by Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
