DHJ Quick Take
- Trade Inquiry: Following the Clippers‘ dismal 6-21 start to the 2025-26 season, James Harden‘s camp reached out to the Rockets to gauge their interest in a potential trade.
- Houston’s Need: The Rockets needed a “floor general” to lead their offense after losing veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to a season-ending ACL tear.
- The Outcome: Despite the vacancy at the position, Houston declined a reunion with Harden; he was subsequently traded to the Cavaliers instead.
James Harden‘s representatives gauged the Houston Rockets‘ trade interest following the Los Angeles Clippers‘ 6-21 start to the 2025-26 season, according to Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
The Rockets needed a floor general after losing Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear before the season started, but the franchise decided not to reunite with Harden, who wound up getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“We’re not really looking for a heliocentric player, as great as James still is,” one Rockets source told ESPN. “We want to develop Reed [Sheppard], we want to develop Amen [Thompson] and we want the ball in Alpy’s [Alperen Şengün] hands.”
Another Rockets source told ESPN, “We weren’t going to put the ball in [Harden’s] hands, so why would you trade for James if you’re not going to give him the ball?”
Harden is one of the greatest players in Rockets history. He’s also close friends with Kevin Durant. Houston likely would have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs with Harden in the fold, especially since the Lakers played without Luka Dončić the entire series and Austin Reaves only played in Games 5 and 6.
Instead, the Rockets lost to the Lakers in six games, while Harden and the Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors in the first round in seven games.
A top 75 player of all time, Harden has a player option for next season worth $42.3 million. His salary is guaranteed only at $13.3 million. The future Hall of Famer is expected to decline his 2026-27 player option and sign a new deal with the Cavaliers.
An 11-time All-Star, Harden holds career averages of 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. The 36-year-old won the 2017-18 MVP Award with Houston.
Latest NBA News & Rumors At Dallas Hoops Journal
- Kevin Durant’s ‘Moodiness’ Took Houston Rockets Players Some Getting Used To, Wore On Team’s Young Guys
- Nikola Jokić Expected To Sign Extension With Denver Nuggets, Who Could Make ‘Real Roster Changes’ This Offseason
- Luka Dončić Not Close To Returning From Injury For Los Angeles Lakers
- Houston Rockets Could Pursue Trades For Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid
- Portland Trail Blazers To Be Prime Trade Suitor For Giannis Antetokounmpo; May Pursue Anthony Davis
- Nikola Jokić Wants To Stay With Denver Nuggets ‘Forever,’ Says Team Is ‘Far Away’ From Title
- Anthony Davis Could Be Traded By Washington Wizards This Offseason
- Kawhi Leonard Trade Proposal Sends Los Angeles Clippers Star To Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic Had Trade Interest In Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo
- LeBron James Opens Up Like Never Before About Michael Jordan GOAT Debate, NBA Finals Record
- Milwaukee Bucks Hire Taylor Jenkins; Giannis Antetokounmpo Hasn’t Spoken To Upper Brass Since Trade Deadline
- Steve Kerr’s Social, Political Outspokenness Has Caused Internal Frustrations Within Golden State Warriors
