The CBA will give the Rockets the ability to sign James Harden to a super-max contract extension next summer due to a provision that allow the shooting guard to sign an extension in back-to-back offseasons. Houston’s front office/ownership initially proposed the rule and then pushed for it during negotiations, a source tells Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The team obviously wants to keep Harden in town long-term with an unanimous team executive telling Feigen that if the the Rockets could, they “would give [Harden] a 100-year extension.”
Here’s more from Houston:
- The Rockets informal policy is to only discuss contracts extensions with a player once the deadline to do so approaches, though Harden may be the exception to that thinking, Feigen writes in the same piece. Harden could opt to become a free agent
- Harden is thrilled with Houston and the ability to sign an even longer deal with the team, as Feigen relays in the same piece. “I love being here,” Harden said. “We’re going to win a lot. I’m excited to be here. That’s one of the reasons I extended this summer. Obviously, this year’s been great. I’ve been happy, probably the happiest I’ve been since I’ve been in a Rockets uniform. Everybody else is happy.”
- The Rockets are having issues rebounding without Clint Capela in the line-up, Feigen writes in a separate piece. “We miss Clint. There’s no doubt,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. In this week’s edition of Fantasy Hoops, I examined which players are poised to take on a bigger role with Capela missing time.