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Portland and Boston have been added to Harden’s list of preferred destinations per The Athletic...
DO NOT WANT.
James Harden updates: New teams on preferred list and what’s next as saga unfolds
James Harden’s holiday wish list has grown longer yet again, it seems. Such is life when you’re a disgruntled NBA star who’s hoping Santa leaves a trade of your liking under the tree this year.
Sources told The Athletic that the Houston Rockets guard has recently deemed the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers among his preferred destinations. Brooklyn and Philadelphia were the first teams to receive that distinction back in mid-December, followed by Miami and Milwaukee being added in the weeks thereafter.
While the Rockets are known to have had trade talks with teams that aren’t on Harden’s list, and Harden still has two seasons remaining on his deal with a player option worth $47.3 million for the 2022-23 campaign, his view of the situation will remain an important factor in any possible scenario. And with no deal in sight and his handling of the situation clearly complicating the trade market, it’s clear Harden has expanded his view of possible landing spots as a way to help facilitate his request. The viability of a possible deal with the Celtics or Trail Blazers is unclear at this time.
Houston, we have a (protocol) problem
First things first, Harden has to make his way through the NBA’s medical protocol before he can return to the court. The league’s medical staff on Thursday ruled that Harden will have a four-day quarantine that began on Tuesday as a result of his choice to attend a private indoor party on Dec. 21. Sources say the event took place at The Velvet Room in Houston.
The league fined him $50,000 for violating the league’s rules, but he managed to avoid losing a game check because the Wednesday night tilt against Oklahoma City was postponed. If the Rockets hadn’t had so many other players unavailable — nine in all due to a combination of contact tracing concerns and injury — Harden would have lost approximately $572,000. Per sources, players who violate league protocol don’t get paid for games missed and are docked 1/72 of their annual salary (in accordance with the 72-game season).
In the end, the too-good-to-be-true timing of quarantine couldn’t be any more advantageous for both the league’s and Harden’s purposes. The Rockets are not scheduled to play again until Saturday at Portland, meaning Harden won’t pay that price. From now until then, the Rockets will attempt yet again to stabilize this soap opera situation that has been front and center in the league’s spotlight since former coach Mike D’Antoni left so abruptly in mid-September.
With the coronavirus pandemic raging throughout the United States and the NBA’s meticulous plan to play games in-market rather than in a bubble setting, it’s imperative that Houston — and all other 29 teams — stay within league guidelines to ensure a successful and safe 2020-21 season. Internally, there was a sense of disappointment surrounding Harden’s decision to attend the Christmas party on Monday evening.
Sources say Houston’s displeasure with this week’s actions stem from the trust and confidence placed in Harden since he was traded to the franchise nearly nine seasons ago. For years, Harden has been viewed as the franchise leader. The Rockets expect Harden to set an example for the rest of the team to follow, not to repeatedly shirk the rules that come with significant consequences for all involved.
The crux of the league’s coronavirus protocol prohibits players from entering places like restaurants, clubs, bars, and lounges, as well as environments with large gatherings. But in contrast to the Orlando bubble, where the controlled nature of the environment meant there was little confusion about what players could and couldn’t do, this in-market challenge is proving to be more problematic.
When teams have their players in the building, it’s far easier to ensure safety and security. Outside of such a setting, players who aren’t being supervised must hold themselves accountable. The Rockets understand there will be temptations for players to socialize, but expect maturity to guide their decisions.
Sources say Harden told Rockets officials that there was a misunderstanding on his part regarding what the protocols allowed and didn’t allow. What’s more, sources say the Rockets reiterated the specifics and importance of the rules with their players in the wake of the recent missteps.
Ripple effect on the trade front?
While the Rockets are clearly displeased with Harden’s choice and the consequences that came with it, sources say they won’t let it affect their thought process on the trade front. Houston knows Harden’s value as a franchise-changing player and such actions shouldn’t impact his ability to perform on a nightly basis — when he’s available, of course.
Conversely, Harden’s list is full of teams that are either not willing to do what it takes to get a deal done to this point or have no interest. As The Athletic previously reported, Milwaukee is not expected to pursue him. Philadelphia is seen by many rival executives as the most likely landing spot for Harden eventually, if only because of his ties to former Rockets general manager and first-year Sixers president Daryl Morey.
But Morey, who traded for Harden in 2012 and remains as high on him as ever, went public with his lack of willingness to trade Ben Simmons on Dec. 17. So long as that’s the case, there’s not expected to be a viable two-team deal between Houston and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the perceived uncomfortableness between Harden and his co-workers has gained notice of late.
Our Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Harden had verbal confrontations with teammates in a Monday practice, with rookie Jae’Sean Tate part of a heated exchange that included Harden throwing a ball in his direction. Sources say the root of Harden’s exchanges was the nature of an intrasquad scrimmage during Monday’s practice. A source says the second unit — which included Tate and backup center DeMarcus Cousins — were outplaying the starters. According to a source, at one point, Tate scored a tough basket on Harden and let him know about it, which prompted the exchange.
“When you have competitive guys, you hope to have competitive practices and that’s what we have,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said on Tuesday. “I want competitive guys on this team. For guys to be competitive, as long as it’s not going overboard, I love it. Maybe it’s the old school in me or Paul Silas vibes, I enjoy it. We are a competitive group.”
But as is the case with the medical missteps, the Rockets maintain that the distractions won’t change how they see Harden’s trade value. If a deal is to be made, it will only be in the best interest of the organization and won’t be tied to his list of preferred destinations. The team knows what Harden wants already — a trade elsewhere to compete for a championship.
As the Rockets attempt to navigate those awkward waters, finding a medium between exploring deals and moving forward with him on the roster, the team understands that a lot of teams will be hesitant to give up elite talent and draft capital unless there is complete buy-in on Harden’s part. Internally, there is also a growing belief that Harden could end up staying in Houston for the entire season — if not longer. Untenable though it may seem.
Keep him away
Anthony Mason was not an NBA actor. 
