The Houston Rockets are going to trade James Harden eventually. Harden has already requested a trade and given the Rockets an expanded list of teams he’d like to go to. He’s also turned down a contract extension from Houston that would have made him the first player in league history to earn $50 million annually.
Players of Harden’s caliber simply don’t become available all that often. The most recent example of a top-five player being traded was Anthony Davis, and it led to a championship for the Lakers in his first season. While Davis only had one year remaining on his contract when the Lakers acquired him, Harden currently has two seasons + a player option. He just turned 31 years old, but The Beard should continue to be one of the very few true superstars in the league going forward.
Southwest Division Preview: Is the James Harden era coming to an end for the Rockets?
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The NBA is almost back, and San Antonio is mere days away from a pair of preseason outings against the Rockets. Although the Spurs have sat still this offseason, their interstate rival has made significant alterations.
Houston dealt away former MVP, Russell Westbrook, for a return of John Wall and a future first-rounder, and shipped defensive specialist Robert Covington to the Trail Blazers in exchange for additional draft capital.
The Rockets also executed a sign-and-trade for rising big man Christian Wood, inked four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year contract, and brought on first-time head coach Stephen Silas to lead the charge.