Spencer Dinwiddie‘s partial ACL tear further reduces the odds of the Nets and Rockets working out a trade involving James Harden this season, in the view of Matt Young of The Houston Chronicle, who notes that Dinwiddie and his $11.5MM salary likely would’ve been a key part of any package Brooklyn could put together.
Dinwiddie’s injury doesn’t mean he can’t be traded, but it significantly diminishes his value, since he can reach free agency in 2021 and may not play another game on his current contract. Still, ESPN’s Zach Lowe suggested during his Monday episode of The Lowe Post that the Dinwiddie injury doesn’t really change the Nets’ and Rockets’ outlook for Harden, since the two teams had made no progress toward a deal anyway.
“Spencer Dinwiddie’s health did not make or break the Nets’ ability to get James Harden,” Lowe said, per RealGM. “It’s unclear to me, frankly, if those teams have had anything resembling a serious conversation about James Harden. Let’s make that clear. I don’t sense that there’s been hardly any traction there at all. And maybe the way the Nets started had them thinking ‘Why are we messing with this?'”
Here’s more on Harden and the Rockets:
- Harden, who has averaged 39.0 PPG and 12.5 APG on .595/.500/.920 shooting in his first two games of the season, has provided the Rockets with a reminder of why it doesn’t make sense to trade him for “50 or 60 cents on the dollar,” writes Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
- The Rockets will remain shorthanded on players until Wednesday and haven’t been able to conduct a full practice in about a week, but P.J. Tucker doesn’t think the team should view that as excuse for a slow start, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. “It’s our jobs to play basketball. This happens,” Tucker said. “Guys go down with injuries, guys go down for being sick, guys go down for family issues. You miss guys all the time. It just makes it next man up. It’s an opportunity to go out and play.”
- Stephen Silas reportedly wasn’t Harden’s first choice when the Rockets were searching for a new head coach this offseason, and his hiring may have even contributed to the former MVP’s decision to request a trade. However, Harden likes what he has seen from Silas so far, as Mark Medina of USA Today writes. “He did a great job,” Harden said of his new coach after the team’s first game on Saturday. “Very confident, knew what he was drawing up and knew where to put his guys at.”
Sounds like Harden and Silas are patching things up. He’ll probably stay now and go for the title. Why not
Probably because the title is not really reachable for Harden. They could patch things up and go for a run at the playoffs, though.
That’s what you think…we’ll see who actually is right (likely me) and who is wrong (likely you)
If you think the Rockets are title contenders while Chief thinks they’re merely an unthreatening playoff team, allow me to throw my vote in with Chief.
Fine, votes cast. Save this post for later in the season. It’s just my opinion anyway, you’re free to take it or leave it…
Yeah I vote for Chief as does anyone who has watched more than 2 minutes of Basketball in their lives and isn’t a delusional homer.
Just 2 b clear…I’m a delusional homer who’s never watched basketball and you’ve accurately predicted the 2 teams out of 30 in the nba finals 3 games into the season? No ur right I’m the delusional one lol
Dont chirp a top 3 commentor bro…u get dunked on every time
You can’t possibly think that your opinion on the Rockets translates to you dunking on anyone do you? Both LA teams, Denver, Portland, probably the Suns. All of those teams are better than Harden and the 2nd chance club. Rockets don’t have a snowballs chance in hell to make it out of the west, let alone beat Brooklyn.
Dunker did not make a prediction, just said Rockets would “go for” it, which is lame, all teams do that. Empty chatter.
Just to be clear I never claimed to know who was going to be playing in the NBA finals. You were the one puffing your chest on how you were going to be right about them going on a title run and that Chief was wrong for saying they were a playoff team but not a serious contender. Which is pretty obvious. In your little brain that is me getting “dunked on” because you are a top 3 commentor? That in itself shows how delusional you are. Since you have nothing better to do with your life than comment all the time does not mean you aren’t delusional or have a clue what you are talking about. Hate to break the bad news.
IMO
Reasonable prediction
Boogie at 30% condition
Gordon at 60%
Wall at 80%
Rockets are the 3-5 seed in the West
If Harden is traded for Simmons, McColumn, Porter, or Siakam
Rockets are 10-12 seed
@ Little_Dunker_45…or should I say HWMVPS…it’s pretty obvious mate.
Yes me and Harden westbrook are the same person w 2 different accounts. He is my less smart younger brother. I’m more handsome tho
It would be sad, the one or two of them singing praises for Ben Simmons.
Harden is trying to make a little peace now realizing he won’t be traded until the deadline at the earliest.
Good feelings aside, this team has been going straight backward since Fertitta bought the club and CP3 got shipped out.
I bet that after the Rockets are eliminated from the playoffs, Harden will immediately demand a trade, prior to the draft. The Rockets need to move in a new direction for their own long term good anyway.
Dinwiddie getting hurt absolutely makes it more difficult! Unless a team just values him as a potential expiring contract he’s a pending free agent when any team that trades for him wouldn’t get a look at him !
Iko is right
Rockets asking price is $1.50
You can’t just offer $0.50
Heat and Nets have no avail assets
Simmons won’t take Rockets to make playoffs
McCollum and Zach Collins is more like $0.50
Simmons and 2 Firsts is also more like $0.50 than $1.50
Tobias Harris to Wolves for Beasley and Rubio
Rockets get Simmons，Beasley and picks
Wolves give PT to Edwards
Simmons and two firsts (which would likely be ~25th pick) would be more like $0.75 on the dollar, and is probably the best deal they could get at the moment.
Rockets are a lot better team than half the teams trying to trade for Harden. No one saw how explosive Wood is going to be when we traded Covington for him. What the heck was Detroit thinking? A legit 6’10” shooter for a journeyman? Once Wall, Harden, and Wood get comfortable they are going to be a very tough out. Tate is bringing some rookie toughness to this team as well.
I watched every game last night
Rockets are the best team in the nba if Wall Boogie Gordon are all at 100% condition – click the refresh button
Big IF
As usual, you are kidding yourself.
No, they absolutely are not. No ifs. Not even on the same planet as the Lakers, Nets, Bucks and Clips. The Rockets arent even a team, they are the Harden show and as we have seen over a decade, Harden chasing stats will always mean no title.
If you think the Rockets current roster is going to run a chip back, while they remain the only teams without a win, is pure delusion on your end.
The only way the Rockets are the best team in the league is if Michael Jordan retires.
Sillyman is really Rockets Harden mvp lols.
Im Telling you they are same person.
Lrtexasman,that the rockets got wood for only $14 million a year is looking like a steal ! :)
and if harden, would just give up the ball a bit more. he’d be even more impressive.
Wood never wanted the Pistons.
Stop trying to write a storyline texasman though it is popular.
Instead to be truthful say they kept him as a backup to Drummond until trading him & Wood wanted to break out of there. And new mgmt was coming anyway.
there is no reason at all for harden to go to heat or any other team but the nets to win a ring,I am more than sure huoston is better than those teams right now,he knows that but he is angry and wants more attention from the owner,
they should sit and talk and get this bs over with
76ers should trade Danny Green and picks to third team for a trade chip then send the chip to Rockets
Danny Green stats
Last season
8, 3, 1
This season
4, 3, 2
Green would only be used for salary matching purposes to give an expiring contract. Their only asset is picks. So no do not trade Green and picks for another trade piece. Trade Green and other expiring deals plus picks for a player. They have 32 in expiring deals comprised of 6 players. Now they’d need to replace the roster spots so it’s unlikely they’d go beyond Green + Scott (20M). So we’re still talking LaVine, Hield, Bojan, Redick, Rozier, Ross type contracts.
#FreeTheBeard
Every Harden article, you post this and immediately like your own comment.
There’s a like button? I still wouldn’t use it on you crazies.
Warriors should trade Brad Wannamaker for Harden … and then trade Wiggins for Brad Simmons … Yeah, that’s the ticket …
In terms of roster fit, the right contracts to make a deal, and future assets, Philly is the hands down favorite to land Harden. No other team is a better fit, no other team has the same mix of pieces, no other team has a front office that loves Harden more.
However, Harden has to be a pro and play hard right now, or he’s going to make it impossible for Morey to give up assets to get him.
I can tell you Knick fans like Dinwiddie. We would take him right now. I think Knicks give up a protected #1 pick. Plus a player. Third team in.