Rockets' interest in James Harden cooled down after Ime Udoka hiring
Harden was eligible for a four-year, $210 million contract if he declined his $35.6 million player option and became a free agent. And he was expecting a contract in that range, sources said, having taken less the previous summer and having left a $161 million extension on the table from Brooklyn in August 2021 and turned down a two-year, $100 million extension from the Rockets in February 2021. But Harden had little leverage to extract that kind of offer from Philadelphia. The Rockets’ interest in reacquiring him as a free agent cooled after they hired Ime Udoka as their head coach in late April, sources said. Udoka was trying to set a new culture in Houston, not bring back the past. He wanted to target defensive-minded players like Memphis’ Dillon Brooks and Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez.
Source: Ramona Shelburne @ ESPN
Source: Ramona Shelburne @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
For so long, James Harden and Daryl Morey had anchored each other. Now they are adrift. Why did things get so bad and so personal? espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 11:12 AM
For so long, James Harden and Daryl Morey had anchored each other. Now they are adrift. Why did things get so bad and so personal? espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 11:12 AM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Philly teammates upset James Harden keeps clubbing? Who could have seen that coming? espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 11:07 AM
Philly teammates upset James Harden keeps clubbing? Who could have seen that coming? espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 11:07 AM
Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
New Lowe Post podcast: @BobbyMarks42 and I catch up on all the biggest ongoing NBA storylines: Harden, Dame, recent Giannis comments, Ben Simmons/Nets, FIBA/Team USA, much more:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3RbPebm
Apple: apple.co/3sys9VN – 10:35 AM
New Lowe Post podcast: @BobbyMarks42 and I catch up on all the biggest ongoing NBA storylines: Harden, Dame, recent Giannis comments, Ben Simmons/Nets, FIBA/Team USA, much more:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3RbPebm
Apple: apple.co/3sys9VN – 10:35 AM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
The James Harden saga has dominated the Sixers’ offseason. But that uncertainty also creates ripple-effects that make these questions more difficult to answer. What’s Maxey’s role? How does this affect Embiid? How does Nurse build the offense? And more👇🏼
inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-… – 10:34 AM
The James Harden saga has dominated the Sixers’ offseason. But that uncertainty also creates ripple-effects that make these questions more difficult to answer. What’s Maxey’s role? How does this affect Embiid? How does Nurse build the offense? And more👇🏼
inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-… – 10:34 AM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne confirms it was Ime Udoka who cooled the Rockets interest in a James Harden reunion. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.twitter.com/hdD4bMzk8J – 9:29 AM
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne confirms it was Ime Udoka who cooled the Rockets interest in a James Harden reunion. espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.twitter.com/hdD4bMzk8J – 9:29 AM
Yaron Weitzman @YaronWeitzman
Tons of great reporting and insight in here on the Harden situation, from @ramonashelburne:
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:01 AM
Tons of great reporting and insight in here on the Harden situation, from @ramonashelburne:
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:01 AM
Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN with a long story on James Harden and the Sixers — there is a ton of stuff here, including on the Harden/Morey and Harden/Rivers situations and an on the record quote from team majority owner Josh Harris
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.twitter.com/zJtsiSW03t – 8:44 AM
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN with a long story on James Harden and the Sixers — there is a ton of stuff here, including on the Harden/Morey and Harden/Rivers situations and an on the record quote from team majority owner Josh Harris
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… pic.twitter.com/zJtsiSW03t – 8:44 AM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
James Harden reaching the postseason has been inevitable 😤
(h/t @NBAcrazystats) pic.twitter.com/qsChOF7FaE – 7:19 PM
James Harden reaching the postseason has been inevitable 😤
(h/t @NBAcrazystats) pic.twitter.com/qsChOF7FaE – 7:19 PM
Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
New Lowe Post podcast: Catching up on Harden/Sixers, Dame, Giannis comments/Bucks future, Nets/Ben Simmons, potential summer ’24 supermax guys (Fox, Bam, Murray, Ingram, more), Team USA/FIBA, more w/ @BobbyMarks42:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3RbPebm
Apple: apple.co/3sys9VN – 5:58 PM
New Lowe Post podcast: Catching up on Harden/Sixers, Dame, Giannis comments/Bucks future, Nets/Ben Simmons, potential summer ’24 supermax guys (Fox, Bam, Murray, Ingram, more), Team USA/FIBA, more w/ @BobbyMarks42:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3RbPebm
Apple: apple.co/3sys9VN – 5:58 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
40-point game leader by season (last 10 seasons):
’14 — Kevin Durant
’15 — James Harden
’16 — Steph Curry
’17 — Russell Westbrook
’18 — James Harden
’19 — James Harden
’20 — James Harden
’21 — Steph Curry
’22 — Joel Embiid
’23 — Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/HqDrC7DqtL – 4:53 PM
40-point game leader by season (last 10 seasons):
’14 — Kevin Durant
’15 — James Harden
’16 — Steph Curry
’17 — Russell Westbrook
’18 — James Harden
’19 — James Harden
’20 — James Harden
’21 — Steph Curry
’22 — Joel Embiid
’23 — Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/HqDrC7DqtL – 4:53 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Active players with multiple 30+ PPG seasons:
Harden
LeBron
Embiid
Beal
Curry
Durant
Who will join the list next? pic.twitter.com/CIuDyNwPXT – 3:08 PM
Active players with multiple 30+ PPG seasons:
Harden
LeBron
Embiid
Beal
Curry
Durant
Who will join the list next? pic.twitter.com/CIuDyNwPXT – 3:08 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
No Harden news, but here’s the Ontario Clippers’ schedule pic.twitter.com/wWggOZqDzV – 12:22 PM
No Harden news, but here’s the Ontario Clippers’ schedule pic.twitter.com/wWggOZqDzV – 12:22 PM
More on this storyline
The Sixers were stunned at Harden’s decision, sources said, insisting to him and his representatives that they had been distant only because they were just hit with the largest tampering fine in NBA history and that they had every intention of re-signing him, as soon as the rules allowed. But Harden was already too far gone. “James takes things very personally,” another source close to Harden said. “When he feels like he’s been wronged, he can be very stubborn.” -via ESPN / September 6, 2023
Thus far, Embiid has given the franchise assurances he is OK riding out the current drama with Harden, sources said. How long he gives them to resolve the matter remains to be seen. Maxey has done the same, even waiting on a contract extension this summer so the franchise can preserve its ability to operate under the salary cap and improve the team in the future. Both have been in touch with Harden throughout, maintaining their personal relationships. Embiid even invited Harden to his wedding in July, sources said. -via ESPN / September 6, 2023
In mid-December, Rivers lit into Harden for taking the final three shots in regulation of a double-overtime loss to the young and lottery-bound-again Rockets, sources said. It wasn’t that Rivers didn’t trust Harden to take the final three shots — he had allowed him to run the offense and call his own number on the final play of regulation by not calling a timeout following a defensive rebound. It’s that the Rockets had no answer for Embiid (39 points) all night and Harden wasn’t shooting well (4-for-19). When questioned in the film session, Harden demurred, saying he just couldn’t get the ball to Embiid, sources said. These flare-ups between Harden and Rivers continued throughout the season. -via ESPN / September 6, 2023