Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta didn’t refuse to trade James Harden to 76ers

Rockets proprietor Tilman Fertitta, according to a report, was adamant about not buying and selling James Harden to the Daryl Morey-run 76ers.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

The reported concept that Tilman Fertitta forbade Stone from making a cope with Morey was incorrect. Not solely does Fertitta keep out of commerce negotiations, satisfied that he lacks the experience to have a desire and dictate instructions, Stone had intensive talks with Morey and reached the purpose on the day of the commerce with Brooklyn that he made one remaining demand. Had Morey agreed, the Rockets would have despatched Harden to Philadelphia.

Stone needed one other draft choose or one other participant, doubtless Tyrese Maxey, together with settlement on far much less safety for the picks within the deal. The 76ers by no means obtained there. Morey has since advised confidants that he thought the Rockets made a terrific deal.

Fertitta clearly has incentive to convey that he didn’t block the very best supply out of spite. The prior report made him look dangerous.

Sadly for him, it’s inconceivable to know whether or not that really occurred. The one means we’d know Fertitta was OK sending Harden to the 76ers is that if the Rockets despatched Harden to the 76ers. As an alternative, Houston traded Harden to the Nets. Simply because Philadelphia got deep into negotiations doesn’t imply Fertitta would’ve ever granted remaining approval. The Rockets might have been utilizing the 76ers just for leverage.

Possibly Rockets basic supervisor Rafael Stone deemed Brooklyn’s supply finest. Possibly Fertitta refused to cope with Morey. Possibly one thing in between occurred, like Fertitta requiring Morey’s new crew to pay a premium for Harden.

It’s inconceivable to say from the surface.

However the concept Fertitta stays out of commerce negotiations is fake – by Fertitta’s own admission. The proprietor mentioned he dictated his basketball-operations division, which “obtained possibly somewhat weak on the finish,” full the Chris Paul–Russell Westbrook commerce.

On the very least, the thought Fertitta refused to commerce Harden to Morey’s 76ers is plausible.

In fact, there’s plenty of reason to doubt it, too.