Sources – Despite the addition of John Wall to the Houston Rockets, James Harden still pushes for trade

The arrival of John Wall has left All-NBA defender James Harden unable and uninterested to move into a new partnership, and the franchise star is pushing the Houston Rockets for business, sources told ESPN.

After debuting the Rockets’ Prison this past weekend, Wall Wall expressed hope that Harden could be excited about playing with him in the backcourt – the possibility that Harden would refuse when he prepares to rejoin the team in practice on Monday.

“I think James and I could be the hack of the combination,” Wall told reporters Sunday night after the Chicago Bulls’ 104-91 loss to the Rockets. “I just hope we get a chance to get into the regular season and see how it goes.”

This is not personal with Wall, and as one source told ESPN, there is no change in Harden’s desire to make a fresh start elsewhere.

After taking social engagements in Atlanta and Las Vegas before reporting late for training camp last week, Harden – a league MVP and three-time NBA scoring champion – has expressed interest in owning and managing the Rockets to become a professional and join him. Team, sources said.

For the Rockets, the team is required to work under new coach Stephen Silas, while also allowing some gains in the trade market to come close to the full value of Harden. The appearance of distressed wealth only hinders an organization from doing business of this magnitude, and Harden has expressed an understanding of that concept, as well as the idea that it will take time to find a trade that gives rockets, a fair value to resources. Said.

Sources said the Rockets have spoken to Harden, the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers are the two primary choice trading destinations. Brooklyn is Harden’s top pick, which means a tie with his former Oklahoma City teammate, Kevin Durant.

For now, the Sixers are unwilling to include all-stars Joel Embid or Ben Simmons in the deal, and the Rockets will not be primarily interested in a package made up of net complementary players and draft picks, sources said. Net is not interested in the Kiri Irving trade, nor have the Rockets shown interest in acquiring it, sources said. Initially, the Nets and Rockets will need to find a more entertaining young player on the third team as part of a wider deal, sources said, and there is no indication that the prospect has gained any traction in recent weeks.

Harden is expected to pass his sixth consecutive COVID-19 exam on Monday, allowing the clearance to begin participating in the team’s practice. Before Sunday’s game, coach Stephen Silas told reporters he expects both Harden and PJ Puck Tucker to be part of Monday’s practice in Houston. Tucker, unhappy without the extension of his contract, is limited to his eastern part and has not joined the team on a two-game trip to Chicago.

Teams will be reluctant to give up the assets needed to acquire a player of Harden’s caliber without confidence, preparing to stay with the franchise when he can exit his contract after the 2021-22 season. Some competing teams have the ability to provide Houston with a combination of assets that it intends to deal with Harden.

Sources said the Houston wave has not happened about the Rockets asking a fair price for Harden: a package that includes a bundle of young franchise Cornerstone and first-round picks and talented players on a rookie deal, sources said.

The Rockets traded Russell Westbrook to Wall Washington Wolverine, who lost the previous two seasons due to injury – but returned to Houston’s first two prison games with an average of 17 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds.