On the Houston Rockets media day, head trainer Ime Udoka mentioned the signing of level guard Fred Van Vleet and why the workforce selected him over James Harden.
In keeping with ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Van Vleet, who left the Toronto Raptors to come back to Houston, can play off the ball,l making him a greater are compatible for Houston. Udoka, previously with the Boston Celtics, reiterated that stance whilst combating again towards rumors he didn’t need Harden.
“Not anything towards James,” Udoka instructed ESPN, “however Fred is only a higher are compatible. I coached James in Brooklyn. He’s one of the most smartest avid gamers I’ve ever been round. The phrases’ Ime doesn’t need James’ by no means got here out of my mouth. It was once, ‘Let’s have a look at the most productive are compatible.’ If we would like Jalen and the younger guys to take the following steps, we want them to have the ball. As for me announcing I don’t need James, that was once by no means the case. It was once about are compatible.”
NBA pundit Stephen A. Smith had a distinct take. In keeping with Smith, Harden instructed Udoka and the Rockets brass that he sought after to develop into the NBA scoring champion once more, which grew to become Udoka off of signing the 10-time All-Superstar and seven-time All-NBA Harden.
“James Harden, that is what I used to be instructed—he in truth talked himself out of a max deal as a result of he went in there speaking about how he sought after to go back to being that scoring champion,” Smith mentioned on First Take. “And Ime Udoka and them had been like, ‘Nah, we ain’t seeking to have that right here, we’re development one thing slightly bit other.’”
Neither Harden nor Udoka have commented on Smith’s rumor. Alternatively, if the rumor is correct, Harden most probably regrets being so fair. Since Houston declined to deliver him again, Harden is caught in Philadelphia, the place many have mentioned he has burned bridges with Sixers President Daryl Morey and has been in quest of a industry all summer time.
The Sixers, on the other hand, need an good enough go back for Harden, one thing no workforce has been keen to surrender for a participant who has a dependancy of souring on groups, making industry calls for, and making a adversarial surroundings. The Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks had been each reported to have an interest within the three-time scoring champion, however each groups have since develop into disinterested, leaving Harden in Philadelphia with the NBA season set to start Oct. 24.
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