As James Harden and the Rockets navigate his future in Houston, the former MVP has reportedly added two more teams to the list of trade destinations he’d be willing to accept.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Harden has indicated he’d be open to a trade to the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat. Those two clubs join the previously reported Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets on his preferred destination list.
Harden was late reporting to Rockets training camp, not arriving until Tuesday despite team workouts beginning Sunday. As a result, Charania reported Wednesday that the three-time scoring champ needs to return six negative COVID-19 tests before he can join his teammates on the court.
“Harden has been non-communicative with the front office at times, sources say, but has maintained a dialogue with Rockets assistant coach John Lucas,” Charania wrote Thursday. “He is expected to have a workout in front of Rockets personnel soon, according to sources.”
The Rockets would prefer to keep Harden, Charania reports, and build around him and guard John Wall, who was acquired in a blockbuster with the Wizards last week for Russell Westbrook. The 31-year-old Harden is entering the second season of a four-year contract worth more than $171 million.
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