The Houston Rockets expand trade conversations beyond James Harden’s favorite teams

The Houston Rockets are increasingly expanding commercial discussions about NBA guard James Harden beyond his favorite destinations in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, sources told ESPN.

Several playoff-caliber teams at Eastern and Western conferences tell ESPN that they find more convenience in engaging high-level commercial assets in talks to acquire Harden. The Rockets are holding ongoing discussions on several fronts and have been communicating with Harden about these scenarios, sources said.

Several teams tell ESPN that they feel less inhibited by negotiating with Harden without the security that he would re-sign once he can become a free agent in two years.

Although the Sixers have expressed a willingness to include star guard Ben Simmons in commercial packages for Harden, those talks have not come close to any deal, sources said. The networks are limited by the Rockets ’interest in their staff and would likely need a third team to come out in talks, sources said. So far, Rockets prices, which have been low for players and young players, have not moved any of their discussions to an advanced stage.

The Rockets are scheduled to start the season next week with Harden sharing the backcourt with John Wall, but show a desire for the teams to move on to complete a deal as soon as possible, sources said.

Harden, a three-time 2018 NBA scoring champion and MVP, did not show up in Houston until Dec. 8, two days after the Rockets began team practice. He missed the Rockets ’first two preseason games and acknowledged he’s“ in recovery mode ”with game conditioning and systems learning from new Houston coach Stephen Silas.

Harden, 31, asked for a trade before the training camp, though the Rockets offered him a two-year, $ 103 million contract extension; in addition to the three years, they still owed him $ 133 million, sources told ESPN.

“I can only focus right now and for me the best James Harden is making sure I’m fit,” Harden told reporters Wednesday. “Like I said, I hadn’t even had a chance to play 5 to 5. Individual workouts, when you do individual basketball workouts, are great, but as all NBA players can agree, there is no has nothing like the 5 against 5. training, physicality, doing readings and things like that. Yesterday, for the first time, I was out there, I felt good and that’s exciting. ”

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.