Houston Rockets new head coach Ime Udoka reportedly shut down the possibility of James Harden rejoining the franchise this summer.

According to a “league source” that spoke with Heavy Sports, the Rockets hiring Ime Udoka changed any potential plans of a James Harden in Houston next season. Ime Udoka reportedly didn’t want James Harden, told Heavy’s league source that “it wasn’t going to work here.”

Ime Udoka: ‘It’s Not Going To Work Here’

“From everything we’ve gotten out of there, it was a matter that Ime didn’t want him,” one league source told Heavy Sports. “At the beginning, were they thinking about Harden? Yeah. But then they hired Ime, and Ime said, ‘It’s not going to work here.’ via Heavy Sports

Instead, the Houston Rockets opted to sign free agent guard Fred VanVleet to a three-year $130 million deal last month. VanVleet is only 29 years old, four years younger than Harden, and at this point an obvious fit for a young Rockets team that is in the process of rebuilding with a new coach. 

The main reason why Udoka apparently didn’t want Harden back in Houston is because he is a “ball dominant” player. Basically, he didn’t want Harden sitting at the top of the key just holding the basketball like an asshole before dribbling around and throwing up a step-back three pointer while everyone else just sits around waiting on something to happen. 

The league source explained that reasoning in the article on Heavy. 

“People look at (Harden’s) assists (2022-23 NBA leader per game with 10.7) and say, ‘Oh, he gives it up.’ But those numbers have a lot to do with the fact the ball’s in his hands most of the time. He holds onto it until he can make a play, and, especially with a young team, you want to get people used to moving the ball — and moving without the ball. If you keep cutting like the coach wants you to and you hardly ever get the ball, you’re going to stop cutting.”

To be clear, that is the exact reason why I didn’t want James Harden back in Philly next season.

Go figure.

Harden, who is now been widely reported as staying with the Sixers after picking up his $35.6 player option, was initially expecting a sign-and-trade type deal with the Sixers. 

Assuming the “league source” who spoke with Heavy is true, then this could serve as one of the main reasons why Harden did in fact pick up his player option and is still in Philadelphia.

If you’ve been reading any Sixers articles I’ve written here at The Liberty Line, you know I absolutely hate it. 

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