Shooter Eric Gordon said he believes the trade that sent former franchise cornerstone James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets allows the Houston Rockets to have “a real direction” under freshman head coach Stephen Silas after a chaotic start to the season. .
“It was clear you could tell from the summer and since the season started he didn’t want to be here,” Gordon said after Thursday’s shootaround, when he was the only member of the organization available to the media. “For us, I think it just gives us a chance [have] a real direction. Everyone else on the team can tighten up and not worry about his situation. We can just move forward. “
Gordon was later ruled out from Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Rockets announced a three-team deal with the Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday-morning. Houston’s net win in the deal is four first-round choices (the Nets’ in 2022, 2024 and 2026 and Milwaukee’s 2022 via Cleveland), the right to trade first-rounders with the Nets in four other years, ex-Cavs guard Dante Exum and former Nets guard Caris LeVert and forward Rodions Kurucs. LeVert will be diverted to the Indiana Pacers in a separate exchange for former All-Star shooting guard Victor Oladipo, sources said.
The deal brought a solution after an uncomfortable few months in which Harden demanded a trade, was kept out of training camp and stated that the Rockets were ‘just not good enough’ after Tuesday night’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, which ended up MVP’s final game. 2018 in a Houston uniform.
“On behalf of the entire Rockets organization and the City of Houston, I would like to thank James Harden for an amazing eight-plus seasons in a Rockets uniform,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in a statement. “James has brought us so many wonderful memories as we watched him grow from sixth man of the year to an eternal All-Star and MVP. My family and I would also like to thank James for his many contributions out of court, including generous donations to good fortune. goals and multiple annual community events. We wish James the best of luck and will always be grateful for the memories. ”
Missile Center DeMarcus Cousins ripped off Harden for being “disrespectful” hours before the transaction closed Wednesday, saying Harden’s antics and comments had been “utterly unfair” to his Houston teammates.
Gordon, who arrived in Houston before the 2016-17 season and was Harden’s surviving Rockets teammate, didn’t take Harden’s comments so harshly.
“To me, who knew him personally, I don’t think he really meant it that he disrespected us,” Gordon said. “That’s just for me. I think he just wanted a different situation. He showed that a little bit, and he said it too … I don’t think he really didn’t want to respect the players, but he wanted a way out. And he got it. “