HoopsHype.com Rumors

Howard Chen: Harden gets a mix of cheers and boos from the OKC crowd. A loud mix. #RedNation Twitter @ho_chenCSN

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden 

Darnell Mayberry: Harden on his career-high 46 points against the Thunder: "I was just making shots. I mean, I’m not going to lie. I was just making shots." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Houston Rockets, James Harden 

Jonathan Feigen: Harden said has been no communication w/ former OKC teammates about matchup. "It’s all business now. Guys are competing for a championship." Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden 

As for Valanciunas, the promising Raptors big man who's been averaging a 15-7 since mid-March, here's a true story: When Sam Presti was quietly shopping James Harden last October, he called Toronto to feel out a Jonas package. And got rebuffed. Quickly. Grantland

Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Sam Presti, James Harden, Jonas Valanciunas 

The Dallas Mavericks have long been regarded as the biggest threat in Texas to steal Howard away from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Rockets' case looks increasingly strong thanks to the presence of James Harden, whose 25.9 points per game are the most we've ever seen from a player who switches teams after appearing for another team in the previous season's NBA Finals. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, James Harden 

The Rockets, furthermore, are unconcerned by the fact that, at present, they wouldn't be able to offer a four-year maximum contract to Howard. While true that Howard is eligible to earn $20,513,178 next season -- and that Houston's current ceiling for a Year 1 offer to Dwight is believed to be in the $18 million range -- sources close to the situation say the Rockets are confident that they can make the necessary trades to get to a full four-year max if Howard is willing to join them. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, James Harden 

Miami Heat's LeBron James and Houston Rockets guard James Harden have been named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 18-24. James led the Heat to a 4-0 mark as Miami extended its winning streak to 26 games, the second longest streak in NBA history, trailing only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, which had a 33-game winning streak. USA Today Sports

Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, LeBron James, James Harden 

“These last 15 games are playoff games for us,” said James Harden. “We have to prepare ourselves to be in the playoffs – that’s what we’re shooting for. So every game, every detail, every quarter and every possession is going to count from here on out and we have to really focus in on that. We can’t be making the same mistakes we were making early in the season. We have to show our growth and maturity. “Teams are desperate to get in the playoffs and we’re desperate to keep our spot. We’ve got to do whatever it takes.” NBA.com

Houston Rockets, James Harden 

Warriors guard Klay Thompson played big in blowout win at #Rockets. Then he addressed James Harden trade rumors... Does the fact that many fans hoped the Warriors traded you for Harden play into your matchup with him? "I had no idea." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden, Klay Thompson 

You didn't hear about Bill Simmons saying Warriors turned down a trade swapping you and Harden? "I didn't know that. Even if I did, he can say what he wants. All I know is we've got a better record than them at this point. I seem to play well against him. So, yeah, it don't effect me. All I can control is what I do out there." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Media, James Harden, Bill Simmons, Klay Thompson 

Were the Warriors hypothetically interested in acquiring someone as young and as talented as Harden who could fit very nicely alongside Steph Curry? Yes, I’d think so. But the first problem: Harden was seeking–and eventually landed–a max extension that the Warriors couldn’t fit into any kind of cap situation unless they were off-loading either Richard Jefferson or Andris Biedrins’ deal in the process. And that was a non-starter for the Thunder, no way they were taking one of those bad deals. More problematic, as part of any Harden deal, the Thunder also wanted a good future 1st-round pick in the deal because OKC knew it couldn’t get back Harden’s full value from any player combination in return, so they wanted picks to back up the acquisition. But OOPS, the Warriors couldn’t offer them their 1st-round pick this year (it’s owed to Utah) or next year’s pick (can’t trade successive future 1st-round picks), which meant the closest 1st-rounder the Warriors could’ve offered was the 2015 pick. And that’s too far away to have any real value when you’re talking about a Harden trade. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden 

And you can’t say the Warriors turned down Harden for Thompson and a pick, because there was no pick to trade, no clear financial way to do this and no official give-and-take on the supposed offer. It was virtually impossible. San Jose Mercury-News

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, James Harden, Golden State Golden State Warr 

Rockets’ head coach Kevin McHale says James Harden will be a game-time decision for tonight’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Houston’s All-Star shooting guard has been dealing with a sore right foot ever since sustaining the injury during Houston’s February 12 game against Golden State when Harden stepped on David Lee’s foot while attempting to ‘Eurostep’ his way around the Warriors’ forward on a fast break. “We’ll see how he feels tonight,” said McHale following Friday morning’s shootaround. “James has got a couple things going on in his foot that’s bothering him. We’ve just got to figure out what approach is going to help him maintain at least the amount of healing that needs to take place from here on out. I mean, ideally, you’d say yeah, we take three weeks off, but I don’t think we’re at that point. He’s got to figure out how much rest and activity he can do and still get some healing into that foot. “I want his foot to be better a week from today and I also want him to be able to play if he can. He’s our top guy, but if those are not compatible then you’ve got to make some other decisions.” NBA.com

Houston Rockets, James Harden, Injuries 

All right! The folks over at Japan-based Dunk Shot have produced another odd manga-like take on an NBA team. While not long ago, BallinEurope showed the hoops-centric newspaper’s take on Kevin Love and the Eurowolves, this time it’s Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and James Harden getting animated. Translation is forthcoming, but it seems as though the Rockets are preoccupied in similar fashion to the Timberwolves, i.e. it’s all about pursuing the ladies, and Harden (like Nikola Pekovic before him) appears to be having troubles. It’s gotta be the beard, eh? Ball In Europe

Houston Rockets, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons 

Brooks is hesitant to talk about what he told his team the day after Harden was traded to Houston, not wanting to allow light to escape the iron curtain the Thunder notoriously keep to the outside world. But he does say actions spoke louder than words. "I don't want to get too personal," he says hesitantly, "but it was more of not what I said but what I did. The next day we went to practice and did our job. Back to work. The players responded. There's no question James is a terrific player; he's having an All-Star year. But we have a lot of good players here that are moving this thing forward and we still expect to get better for many years." CBSSports.com

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Coaching, James Harden, Scott Brooks 

Grantland ace Zach Lowe has a longer look at Houston's unorthodox approach to team-building that sources say will continue this summer with the free-agent pursuit of Dwight Howard -- and Andrew Bynum and Josh Smith if Howard rebuffs them -- to pair with star swingman James Harden. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, James Harden 

But here's the real killer. Multiple sources have told me that, when Oklahoma City's Sam Presti decided to shop James Harden, Golden State was his first call. He wanted Klay Thompson and a pick. The Warriors would only consider the trade if Oklahoma City took back Biedrins or Jefferson for 2013 expirings, knowing they'd get crushed by the luxury tax in 2014 with Harden's extension plus Steph Curry's extension plus David Lee plus Bogut/Jefferson/Biedrins. At that point, Presti went to Washington (offering Harden for Bradley Beal, and unbelievably getting turned down), then Houston (where the shopping heated up). Presti never ended up calling Golden State back. Grantland

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Trade, Sam Presti, James Harden, Klay Thompson 

Royce Young: Tony Parker tells @Bill Simmons he was happy when OKC traded James Harden: youtube.com/watch?v=wlrGFj… Twitter @dailythunder

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Trade, Tony Parker, James Harden 

James Harden: We are going to miss our bros in Houston! @Marcus Morris @Cole Aldrich @Patrick Patterson and TD. I know everything will work out. Twitter @JHarden13

Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Trade, Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, James Harden, Marcus Morris 

Howard Chen: Lin on last night: "We wanted to win that for James (Harden)" - wanted to atone for past two losses to OKC. #RedNation Twitter @ho_chenCSN

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Jeremy Lin