Houston Rockets: 3 questions following the James Harden trade
By Dalton Sell
Houston Rockets: Question No. 2 following James Harden trade – Who is the face of the franchise?
James Harden has been the face of the Houston Rockets for eight seasons now. With him out of the picture, someone else will have to put on the cape, but who?
Given John Wall’s pedigree, he is the first name that comes to mind. The five-time All-Star had been the poster child for the Washington Wizards since they selected him first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft as he asserted himself among the best point guards in the league before his recent bout with injuries. According to O’Connor’s reporting, Wall believes he can step into that role for the Houston Rockets following Harden’s departure, but he is not alone.
Wall is a feasible option, but what about Christian Wood? The 25-year-old has been fantastic in his first season with Houston, currently averaging 23.1 points and 10.1 rebounds through the team’s first nine games. Being overlooked throughout his career, Wood has started to blossom into a star and has a legitimate case to take the reigns of this franchise without question if he can sustain this high-level play.
Lastly, Victor Oladipo also poses a strong case, given his return to form early this season. After rupturing his quad tendon in early 2019, Oladipo has finally started to look like his old self, and the two-time All-Star has been fantastic with his health back up to par. If he stays in Houston, which remains a significant question mark in itself, he could make his way up to the top as well.
No matter who eventually takes the mantle, this team has just one goal in mind: win. With the James Harden saga officially reaching its conclusion, the Houston Rockets will focus on pushing for the postseason with this reshaped roster.