New Rockets general manager Rafael Stone says he’s committed to building a championship team around James Harden, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. There has been speculation former Rockets GM and newly-hired Sixers executive Daryl Morey would try to acquire the former MVP.
“We’ve still got James Harden. Our goal is still to win a championship, and if you’ve got him, you’re halfway there,” Stone said. “It’s incumbent on me and (new coach) Stephen (Silas) and the whole team to figure out the rest of the whole, but the key piece is there.”
Silas embraces those expectations and the pressure that comes with it. “I’m a win-now coach,” he said. “To not have to deal with growing and all that type of stuff, to think championship right away, is exciting for me. And I’m prepared for it and ready for it.”
We have more on the Rockets:
- Silas’ contract is a four-year deal, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston tweets. Silas was officially hired on October 30 after being one of the presumed finalists along with Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas, who has decided to remain in Houston and join Silas’ staff.
- As previously reported, the team has talked to former Suns and Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek about joining their coaching staff. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has uncovered a few other candidates that the Rockets are interested in hiring. Jazz assistant DeSagana Diop, Magic assistant Rick Higgins and former Sixers and Nets assistant Will Weaver are also possible additions to the staff, though Weaver is also a candidate for the Thunder’s head coaching job.
- The front office aggressively pursued former Pacers head coach Nate McMillan to join the staff but he opted to instead join the Hawks’ staff under Lloyd Pierce, Berman adds in another tweet. Atlanta is close to hiring McMillan, though no official announcement has been made.
“committed to build a championship team around Harden’’. LOL man
If you have him your halfway there. What is he smoking??
Exactly, they’re way more than halfway there with Harden.
More than halfway to an early vacation every year.
Yep. And you can say the same thing about the Mavericks, the Trailblazers, the Bucks, the Celtics, the Nuggets…hmm who else? I’ll wait…
Only if halfway there means losing a series 4-2 instead of 4-0.
The trouble is, you’re the Portland Trail Blazers. They’ve been halfway there for eight years with stud Damian Lillard. You need more than a superstar. And with Houston’s roster and traded away picks and salary cap hell, they’ll stay exactly that. Halfway there.
I’m sure Russell’s gonna LOVE hearing the GM explain that they need to build the team around Harden instead of “Harden and Russell.” Should go over GREAT.
My thoughts exactly…little bit of a whoops moment in that
Rockets going nowhere unless they move Westbrook. Nobody wants Harden. Not a team in NBA that will give Houston what they want for Harden. His contract alone no one wants. Houston has dug their own grave with Harden. Why do you think Coach and GM both bailed. You think that was a coincidence. Wake up
I’d love Russ on Knicks. We have plenty expiring contracts. We’ll even throw in a future #1 pick. If Rockets remember what that is. Haaaa
Do the Knicks even remember what the playoffs are? Haaaa
I am not a Knicks fan (It’s a Philly thing), but I do think Russ would be a great fit there. I do think Russ is overrated and likely not a guy to take a team to the top…he is still good enough and competitive enough to give credibility to the Knicks and perhaps even make them a playoff team and/or attractive to a FA.
“Nobody wants Harden.”
Don’t take this the wrong way, but is there a way for you to read WITHOUT commenting?