Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from a disastrous start to camp

2. Time for the Houston Rockets to trade James Harden

When a player like James Harden draws a line in the sand, it’s time to take notice. By all accounts, Harden is the kind of player who likes to play basketball and go to strip clubs, and he’s very good at both.

While he’s aloof and sometimes shows up to camp out of shape, until now you can’t say he’s been unprofessional. He may be the best at playing his way into shape during the season, and as a veteran, he’s earned plenty of benefit of the doubt. In a normal season, his early training camp activities would have no bearing on the historic stat lines he’ll put up as the season goes on, and he’s a perennial top-two MVP candidate.

While running around Vegas parties unmasked during a global pandemic is the absolute height of irresponsibility, it’s so far out of the norm for him to simply not show up that the Rockets need to take note. In fact, several days into camp, Silas said there is no timetable yet for his return, and the team doesn’t even know if Harden is in Houston.

Harden has made it clear that on a team full of players and personnel who went out of their way to get away, he would also like to follow suit. The Rockets have a long list, including D’Antoni, general manager Daryl Morey and Westbrook, who have inconvenienced themselves or maneuvered with whatever means they have at their disposal to get the heck out.

At this point, James Harden does have one piece of leverage, and that is his very presence. He’s flexing that leverage to the max.