As the Houston Rockets prepare to open the regular season on Wednesday, they do so under a cloud of uncertainty with the face of their franchise. The Rockets are not going to just give away James Harden, the eight-time All-Star, who has made it clear that he would rather trade than be a contender.
The dynamics of the deadlock will cause tension as the season progresses, and there have been signs in recent days that the pressure is already starting to emerge, sources have told The Athletic.
Harden reported to training camp a week late on December 8 with the intention of keeping things professional with the team despite his preference for joining elsewhere, but the environment has been tense around the team in recent days.
As long as Harden remains on the selection, there will be more attention for the team. All eyes will be on the Rockets and every move made, especially by Harden, will be dissected and interpreted in the context of his …