Former Boston Celtics coach may have saved Rockets with stern offseason edict
Former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka may have saved his new franchise, the Houston Rockets, by issuing a stern edict to his new employers not to pursue a reunion with James Harden — who recently demanded his third trade in three years since asking out of the Space City the first time.
“From everything we’ve gotten out of there, it was a matter that Ime didn’t want him,” one league source told Heavy Sports’ Steve Bulpett. “At the beginning, were they thinking about Harden? Yeah. But then they hired Ime, and Ime said, ‘It’s not going to work here.'”
It’s unclear yet if the Philadelphia 76ers will trade Harden this offseason after “The Beard” demanded a trade ahead of the 2023 free agency period. Harden was dealt to the Sixers the 2022 trade deadline after he demanded to be traded from the Brooklyn Nets; a little over a year after he demanded that Nets move in the first place.
James Harden wanted to know what his future in Philly might look like, but Daryl Morey refused to engage in that pre-free agency discussion. The two sides don't agree as to why, but here they are.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 30, 2023
On Harden's trade demand and what's next, at @TheAthletichttps://t.co/NxpU1ztWPL
Former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka gets a better fit at point guard than James Harden
The same source lauded the Rockets’ decision to sign Fred VanVleet to a three-year, $130 million contract instead of entertaining Harden’s latest public disagreement with the franchise that employs him.
“They wound up with a guy who fits better anyway,” the source said. “VanVleet is going to be able to give them scoring they need, but he’s not going to dominate the ball the way Harden would, the way Harden does.”
Houston has several young ball-handlers like the recently-drafted Amen Thompson, Kevin Porter Jr., and even Jalen Green — who is looking to improve his handles as he continues developing into a possible star offensive weapon — who need the ball in their hands. VanVleet, as proven by his 2019 championship season with the Toronto Raptors, is someone who can defer when need be. Harden is one of the most ball-dominant superstars in the league.
Perhaps if Harden was less entitled to getting his way, the dynamic with the Rockets’ young guns could potentially work. As things have been the last few years, though, Udoka made the right call for the sake of chemistry and camaraderie.