Chris Paul and James Harden have formed a formidable backcourt for the Houston Rockets since 2017, but reports now suggest that the guard tandem’s relationship has soured. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports released a report stating the relationship between Harden and Paul is now “unsalvageable”, leading to Paul wanting out.
“Paul went to Rockets management and demanded a trade, and Harden issued a “him or me” edict following the Rockets’ second-round loss to the Golden State Warriors, sources said.
The backcourt mates went nearly two months without speaking to each other during the season, sources said, creating a tenuous environment for teammates and everyone involved with the franchise.”
Despite the damning nature of the report, both Paul and GM Daryl Morey have now publicly disputed the claims laid out in the report.
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) June 18, 2019
A thoroughly exasperated Daryl Morey said Chris Paul and his reps have never asked to trade him and he will be on Rockets next season. Said he and Harden do not have issues with one another and that he has spoken to both often this off-season about free agency evaluations, plans.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) June 18, 2019
“If it was the middle of September and issues aren’t resolved, then that would be different, but it’s not,” said a team source. “Chris and James want to win a championship.”https://t.co/WCipCckTzh
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) June 18, 2019
Reports surfaced that Chris Paul and James Harden had a verbal altercation after the Rockets were eliminated from the Playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. Paul re-signed with the Rockets last summer on a four-year deal, seeming to have then seen his long term future in Houston alongside the reigning MVP.
The Rockets finished this past season with a record of 53-29, ending up fourth place in the Western Conference prior to being eliminated in the second round of the Playoffs.
