Honesty has always been one of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas鈥 trademark traits, so he was just being himself when he spoke candidly about James Harden鈥檚 status heading into the 2020-21 season. Over the weekend, he held his first workout with players since being pried from the Mavericks to take the hot seat in late October, and the eight-time All-Star was a notable absence. At the time, he cited the National Basketball Association鈥檚 stringent novel coronavirus protocols as the primary cause; his would-be top dog could most recently be found partying in Atlanta and Las Vegas in contravention of the league鈥檚 directive against breaking quarantine outside of essential activities. Yesterday, however, he was more succinct with the situation; the 2018 Most Valuable Player, he said, is 鈥渁 holdout,鈥 having missed a scheduled Sunday night workout and subsequent practice.
聽In describing the circumstances that led to Harden鈥檚 absences, Silas proved to be alternately patient and confident. 鈥淭here is no timetable, as far as I know,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is a setback. You want your best player to be here.鈥 Indeed, and for more grounds than he can enumerate. The league鈥檚 reigning scoring champion also happens to be the Rockets鈥 longest-tenured player and acknowledged leader, and the unexplained no-shows convey the wrong message. Make no mistake; the signals being sent are deflating, new acquisition John Wall鈥檚 insistence that 鈥渨e鈥檝e been on the same page since I鈥檝e been traded here鈥 notwithstanding.
Depending on source and perspective, Harden鈥檚 decision to go dark on the Rockets stems from his disappointment with their plight following the resignations of erstwhile bench tactician Mike D鈥橝ntoni and general manager Daryl Morey. He鈥檚 also said to be angling for a transfer to the Nets and a reunion with good buddy Kevin Durant. So much for the merit of kowtowing to his every whim and fancy. At his behest, they agreed to ship Chris Paul and a bevy of draft assets for Russell Westbrook in June 2019. The latter wound up being an extremely expensive one-season rental after they again acceded to his desire to bring in Wall. Now, everything they鈥檝e done for him apparently counts for squat; despite changing their entire system to match his style and reconfiguring their roster to suit his preferences, the thanks they get is a demand that he be moved. And so bent on leaving is he that he doesn鈥檛 have second thoughts holding them hostage.
It鈥檚 too bad, really, because Harden鈥檚 a force on the court, capable of willing the Rockets to a playoff berth all by and unto himself. This is why he鈥檚 due $40.8 million for his 2020-21 campaign, not to mention another $90 million after. They need him in order to stay relevant, which is why they鈥檝e also added such notables as Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins. And which is why they鈥檙e angling to keep him, or, at worst, get fair value in exchange for his departure. And, as the annals of pro hoops has shown, 鈥渇air value鈥 doesn鈥檛 mean four quarters to the dollar.
聽Silas is himself a holdout 鈥 that is, for the possibility of the relationship to be mended enough for Harden to consent to sticking around. Meanwhile, he remains frank about the prospects. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 real is he鈥檚 not here. And he has a reason, but that鈥檚 on him to tell whoever what his reason is.鈥 Meanwhile, Rockets fans get to experience the same old, same old: They lose anew.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since 大象传媒 introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management,corporate communications, and business development.
