- I’ve been writing this year that I wouldn’t trade James Harden. Richard Li and others, however, have made solid arguments in support of the counter position. And contrary to the sentiments held by many who share my stance on this matter, I do not think the question itself is without merit. There’s a very real case to be made as to why the Rockets would be better off trading Harden. But to add to my supporting arguments, I don’t think Harden is any ordinary superstar. We all agree he’s a unique offensive talent. But I almost think that in light of the spotlight upon his deficiencies, this year, he’s become undervalued in a way. Oh, I still maintain that Harden is the primary cause of Houston’s downfall this year: he’s a fundamentally selfish and lazy player, and a terrible leader. But despite that, with almost every other player on the roster performing below or far below career norms, the Rockets are highly likely to make the playoffs. Think about that for a second, because in our disappointment, we take that point for granted. At the very least, a team built around James Harden is a lock to make the playoffs. That is not insignificant. Look at other players that people consider marquee talents around the league. DeMarcus Cousins is spoken of as similarly impactful, but he’s only anchored god-awful teams and will again not make the playoffs. Anthony Davis, prematurely crowned by some (including myself) as the league’s best player, won’t be making the postseason this year; his team has suffered all sorts of injuries, yes, but were the Rockets any healthier last year when they placed second, led by Harden in a historically brutal West? What about Kobe throughout the years when not paired with an All-NBA frontcourt running mate. (Okay, different era). The point is, while featuring James Harden may cap your team’s ceiling, it also sets a safeguard on your team’s floor. You will not be bad and have a chance to be very good. And as I’ve argued, second best is a good goal to have, at this point. It would be foolish to deconstruct in hopes of chasing a team in the midst of the greatest two-year run in NBA history.
- I asked earlier this week if Ty Lawson or Scottie Pippen was the bigger bust in Rockets history, and the responses were split pretty evenly. You could make the case both ways. Lawson was brought in to be the final piece to a title team and did basically nothing. Pippen, conversely, was signed to be the centerpiece of a last ditch reboot, but, while vastly underperforming, still was an important piece to the team. On the flip side, Lawson came in with question marks. Aside from his age, Pippen was thought to have no downside, and was a proven winner with six rings who would lead the Rockets to the title. Instead, Pippen rarely exerted himself, and slipped on the floor in the most pivotal moment of the season, against the Lakers. I have a longer post on the topic planned, but I can’t shake the disappointment of the Lawson saga. In theory, it seemed like such a brilliant fit; in reality, we saw how little we understand about intra-team and human dynamics. I envisioned an offense that would allow the Rockets to run the same sets with Lawson as they did with Harden, the two players taking turns, with Harden becoming more efficient in result. Instead, the former Nugget stood in the corner, having little to no impact. This is not to mention the effects his personal struggles had upon his game. Now the Rockets are back at square one at the position.
- Michael Beasley and Josh Smith are on the same team now. That was the first quip I wanted to make. The second point I wanted to make–a very serious assertion–is that Michael Beasley will unlock his mesmerizing potential in a Rockets uniform and become the team’s stretch-four of the future. He will display the talents which made him one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. He will recruit Kevin Durant in the summer. The trio of Beasley, Harden, and Durant will set the league ablaze and strike fear in the hearts of the Warriors. With Donatas Motiejunas at center, the Rockets will boast a lineup with five three point shooters. This is only the start. What a time to be alive.
