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For the second time since the start of training camp for the 2020-21 season, Houston Rockets star James Harden was found to be in violation of the league’s new COVID-19 safety protocols. In both circumstances, the videos posted on social media showed Harden in covered club venues very close to a crowd of people and without wearing a mask.
While ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported Wednesday that Harden had COVID-19 already contracted in the summer, the league still requires him to follow the protocols, as a way to limit the potential spread. For the second violation, which occurred earlier this week, the league fined Harden $ 50,000. The protocols “prohibit attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments,” the NBA said in its announcement.
But for Harden, a perennial All-Star point guard and MVP finalist who recently called for a trade from Houston, his recent security breaches don’t appear to undermine his value in the league.
By ESPN s Tim Bontemps:
When asked if Harden’s behavior would be a red flag when trading the former MVP, team executives told ESPN they thought he was selfish and reckless, but would not avoid a deal.
An executive told ESPN that his team had hired a private investigator to conduct a thorough background check on Harden, which presumably did not show any red flags. According to Bontemps, the biggest factor complicating a deal is Houston’s high sales price:
If a team is comfortable acquiring Harden, the biggest challenge would be to gather enough outgoing salary (at least $ 33 million) to legalize a trade without destroying its existing roster.
Teams are in the early stages of evaluating their rosters and are unwilling to make a hasty judgment at this point. That could change if the Rockets cut the asking price for Harden, who is currently reported to be a mix of young players with star potential and significant draft assets.
As is often the case in the NBA, the value proposition on the court, for both the Rockets and Harden’s suitors, seems likely to dictate whether or when a deal ultimately reaches the finish line.
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