Rockets believe James Harden won’t push trade demand rest of season

James Harden requested a trade from the Rockets. Since, it has been pretty quiet.

No offers have appeared shut. Harden can maintain adding teams to his list. However with almost two full seasons left earlier than he can hit free company, he has restricted leverage to choose his vacation spot. His taking part in model and method make him a tough fit on many groups. His huge wage complicates a commerce. Houston has rightly kept its asking price high.

The massive query: How would Harden deal with the Rockets keeping him into the season? Once more, it has been fairly quiet.

Positive, Harden flaunted the NBA’s coronavirus protocols, arrived late to training camp and got into it with teammates. However he wasn’t a great leader even in higher occasions. That is all fairly tame relative to the recent precedent of Jimmy Butler.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer:

Entrance workplace executives across the NBA say Houston is rising extra assured that Harden can be content material to stay round at the very least via the remainder of the season. Sources say Harden nonetheless prefers to be dealt

1. Opposing entrance workplaces don’t essentially have the perfect learn into Houston’s considering.

2. Even when the Rockets are gaining confidence Harden will settle for staying in Houston, that confidence isn’t essentially justified.

Nonetheless, this through-the-grapevine evaluation means one thing.

John Wall looking athletic has been one of many season’s most-pleasant surprises. Christian Wood is taking part in even higher. The Rockets are offering some purpose for Harden to rethink his commerce request.

Alternatively, Houston is simply 3-5. Shedding exacerbates most issues.

At minimal, Harden is giving the Rockets house to discover a commerce with out making use of additional strain. He’s taking part in nicely and speaking positively about Houston’s route transferring ahead. If you happen to didn’t know he requested a commerce, you wouldn’t guess simply from watching and listening to him this season.

However so long as he desires to be traded, his temper may all the time change on a dime. Regardless of the Rockets’ present confidence degree in maintaining him, that menace lurks beneath the floor.