James Harden is the leader of the Houson Rockets, that much is clear. When he’s on fire, the team is nearly unstoppable, and when he commits 13 turnovers, the team loses.
The injury-riddled Rockets overcame all odds and managed to make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals this postseason before falling to the Golden State Warriors. That was very impressive, and most expected them to fall short. Part of being a competitor though, is not being satisfied with falling just short. Harden and the rest of the team won’t be satisfied until they’re holding the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. If the Rockets want to win a championship, they’re going to have to make some changes. One of the changes that Harden would like to see made is the addition of another playmaker.
From Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle:
When Rockets general manager Daryl Morey puts together his shopping list, Harden had a suggestion.
He said he “definitely” would like to see the Rockets add another playmaker to take some of that responsibility out of his hands.
“That’s one of the conversations me and Daryl are going to have (and) the coaches,” Harden said. “That’s one of the pieces to add, but that’s later conversations. We’ll be all right. We’re very confident in the group we have. This summer we have to work hard and be ready for next year.”
Despite being a shooting guard and not a point guard, Harden has been the primary playmaker on the Rockets. He brings the ball up the court, and more or less operates as a shooting guard-sized, shoot-first point guard. Actual point guard Patrick Beverly tends to play off-ball. For this reason, it’s a bit surprising to hear Harden request another playmaker. After all, he’s the guy in Houston. The ball is usually in his hands, and the team has faith in him.
Perhaps it is a sign of maturity on Harden’s part to suggest that the ball be taken out of his hands. After all, a team is most successful when the players prioritize team success over their own egos. It would be interesting to see how Harden would play off-ball, as it’s not something he is accustomed to doing. However, Harden is one of the best players in the world, and I have no doubt he would be able to adapt.
If Harden wants a playmaker, one point guard the team could target is Rajon Rondo. Rondo was a bad fit this year in Dallas, and is all but gone from Dallas already. The good thing about Rondo’s poor play this season though(from the perspective of interested teams), is that it lowered his value. Houston could get Rondo for a relatively cheap price, and he could be a good fit there. Rondo would also join his friend and former AAU teammate Josh Smith in Houston, who played a big role for the Rockets in this year’s playoffs.
I believe that Harden is coming to realize that having the ball in his hands may not always be a good thing. Understanding that and showing a willingness to give up touches for the greater good of the team is the mark of a winning player, and the Rockets’ future is bright if Harden continues to demonstrate unselfishness.
