Despite making changes at general manager and head coach positions this offseason, Houston Rockets kept insisting that they are still committed to winning a championship. And while their fans may believe this, the team’s two biggest stars, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, apparently don’t.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon reported on Wednesday that both Harden and Westbrook are unsure about their future with the Rockets. The pair is reportedly concerned about the direction that the franchise has taken lately and voiced their doubts to the front office and team ownership.
Sources close to the organization told Wojnarowski and MacMahon that the Rockets’ All-Stars haven’t asked to be traded but that this scenario became a possibility.
Houston Rockets have been in the mix for the NBA title for the past several years but couldn’t get over the hump. They have been eliminated in the Conference semi-finals three times in the past four years while also blowing up a 3-2 lead in Conference finals in 2017/18.
Now, the overwhelming opinion around the league is that their championship window is closed, considering the team’s lack of assets and ways to improve an aging roster.
Rockets don’t have their draft picks this year or in 2024 and 2026, while Oklahoma City Thunder holds the right to make a pick swap in 2021 and 2025. They also lack in prominent young players that they could use in potential deals.
Another issue for the Rockets is the tricky salary cap situation, courtesy of James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s max contracts. Harden and Russell are owed $131.5 million each in the next three seasons while they also have additional player options worth north of $46.5 million.
It remains to be seen whether the new Rockets’ front office can get creative and make moves that could make Harden and Westbrook happy. If not, then this will be the beginning of an end for Rockets as we knew them for the past five years.
