RCM88x wrote:Doctor MJ wrote:RCM88x wrote:Although I don't agree with his methods, I can see why Harden is upset with the situation. Basically his team gets a new owner, in the middle of his prime, and prioritizes saving $$ over winning. Unfortunate situation for sure and I have non-issue to with him wanting off of the Titanic that is the Houston Rockets. He could go about it better though.
His owner isn't the actually reason for the issue though, and I say that as someone who thinks the owner is an idiot.
Harden ain't asking to leave because the team didn't resign Trevor Ariza a couple years ago, he's asking to leave because there is no hope left for being a serious contender in Houston, because the team gave up a ton of assets to get Westbrook in place of Paul because that's what Harden demanded, and when that inevitably proved to a low ceiling, Harden didn't want to live with the consequences.
I don't know how things will play out, it's entirely possible that Harden will get what he wants. But the next time the CBA is negotiated, owners are going to look at the Harden situation and say "Okay, time for another lock out."
I'm all for player empowerment, but it all goes to hell when someone uses their leverage so irresponsibly.
Do we really know if Harden was so sick of CP3 that he personally approved the Westbrook trade though? I agree they probably weren't getting along at the end of 2019, but Paul wasn't good in the playoffs. I don't think losing him was a massive step back honestly.
The problem was just that the trade itself was not a good one. Westbrook had a worse contact and a worse fit.
Anyways, the Houston issue started the second the ownership changed. They've slowly been drifting this way and I think everyone of us has seen the issues growing.
Ideally what owners would get from this is "if we mishandle our rosters our superstars will ask to leave". However owners obviously don't always prioritize wins and losses above all things, naturally.
Harden is a smart guy, he knows when his team has a chance and when it doesn't, and his efforts and behavior change based on those feelings (much like LeBron at times).
Huh? I'm not sure what you're uncertainty is.
Harden demanded Houston trade Chris Paul. Publicly. What is it you think the Rockets could get for that contract after that?
The problem wasn't so much that THAT was a bad trade, so much as that good trades were impossible after that.
And as far as approving the acquisition of Westbrook, you seriously think Morey & co didn't ask Harden what he thought about Westbrook? I mean, the only reason they traded Paul was because of Harden, and Westbrook was Harden's former teammate. Pretty dang sure they ran it by him.
I think you need to take a step back here because you seem to have room for only one person to blame and have chosen to blame the owner. But while the owner is a nincompoop, he's really not responsible for the big stuff here, Harden is.
