Rockets’ new direction doubted by Harden, Westbrook–report

Russell Westbrook and James Harden of the Houston Rockets during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs on September 08, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

An offseason shift brought a new regime to the Houston Rockets, and All-Stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook are reluctant to buy in, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Head coach Mike D’Antoni stepped down, joining Steve Nash’s coaching staff with the Brooklyn Nets, and Daryl Morey ended his run overseeing basketball operations with the franchise to take the same job with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Their replacements, head coach Stephen Silas and general manager Rafael Stone, are unproven. ESPN reported Harden and Westbrook took their concerns about the Rockets keeping the window as a contender open to members of the front office.

The report said both players signed off on Silas’ hiring. He was a well-respected assistant coach beloved by Dallas Mavericks players during his tenure with the team.

But the Rockets are becoming concerned the players are no longer committed to staying in Houston, ESPN said.

Harden, 31, has been an All-Star each of his eight seasons with the team. He publicly and privately has asked the team to improve his supporting cast each of the past three offseasons.

Last summer, he was reunited with Westbrook, a teammate in Oklahoma City, when the Rockets unloaded Chris Paul to the Thunder.

Westbrook turns 32 Thursday. He is owed $131.5 million over the next three years. That doesn’t include a player option for a fourth year at $46.7 million.

Field Level Media