How James Harden destroyed Rockets from the inside in 18 months

July 2019. That is the mile-marker that signifies when Harden began slowly chipping away at a franchise that appeared to be on the cusp of a championship only a yr earlier have been it not for these pesky 27 consecutive missed 3-pointers in Sport 7 towards the 2018 Golden State Warriors.

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Two months after a second straight season ended with one other playoff loss to the Warriors – this time after they have been lacking Kevin Durant – the Rockets made a disastrous commerce to maintain Harden joyful.

Chris Paul and Harden did not see eye-to-eye when it got here to how the workforce ought to do issues each on and off the court docket. After two years of butting heads with Paul, Harden noticed the prospect to remove his headache by transport him away for good good friend Russell Westbrook. Bowing to the whims of their celebrity, the Rockets made it occur by including two first-round picks and two decide swaps to finish the deal.

That commerce is wanting worse and worse for the franchise’s future by the day. Not solely did Paul show to nonetheless be a greater participant than Westbrook, however the Rockets mortgaged their future by together with a lot draft compensation. Now, because the Rockets attempt to rebuild, it’s the Thunder who will profit probably the most from the Rockets’ upcoming misfortune.

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As at all times, Harden was nonetheless sensational on the court docket even after forcing a commerce that weakened his championship possibilities. Even when he reported late to the NBA Bubble in July, he nonetheless confirmed up in nice form and had the Rockets rolling.

In fact, that roll got here to an abrupt finish with 4 straight losses to the eventual champion Lakers and that’s when Harden emptied the gasoline canister on the franchise.

Shortly after that loss to the Lakers, Mike D’Antoni determined he’d somewhat not proceed his profession with the Rockets. Then, Daryl Morey checked out and took a job with the 76ers. Two months after that closing loss to the Lakers, Harden made it clear he was not desirous about sticking round both, even turning down a two-year, $103 million contract extension that may have made him the highest-paid participant in NBA historical past.

Then, Harden pressured his new teammates to start follow with out him as he partied with Lil Child in Las Vegas and Atlanta.

When Harden arrived in December, he was out of practice and disinterested in repairing his relationship with the franchise, forcing their hand to make one other commerce of a celebrity, this time Harden himself.

So, now right here sit the 3-6 Rockets. A smoldering pile of what they have been simply 18 months in the past, and it was Harden who lit the match.