Rockets Stay Pat at Deadline

Rockets Stay Pat at Deadline; Reportedly Snub James Harden Reunion

HOUSTON — As the 2:00 PM Thursday trade deadline passed, the Houston Rockets’ front office remained unusually silent. Despite a glaring hole at point guard and a roster thinned by season-ending injuries, General Manager Rafael Stone opted to stand pat, betting on internal development and the upcoming buyout market rather than a mid-season overhaul.

The decision has left many fans and analysts scratching their heads, especially considering the “win-now” window opened by the acquisition of 37-year-old superstar Kevin Durant last summer.

The “Point” of Contention

The primary motivation for a trade was widely expected to be the replacement of Fred VanVleet, who was lost for the season to an ACL tear. Houston had been heavily linked to Chicago’s Coby White and the Pelicans’ Jose Alvarado in the weeks leading up to the deadline.

However, those potential deals evaporated as the market heated up. White was instead dealt to the Charlotte Hornets, and Alvarado landed with the New York Knicks. Without a clear upgrade available at a price Stone was willing to pay—reportedly hesitant to part with valuable future picks from Phoenix or Brooklyn—the Rockets decided to stick with their “point guard by committee” approach involving Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and Durant himself.

The Harden Rebuff

Perhaps the most shocking revelation following the deadline was a report by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, stating that James Harden sought a third stint in Houston.

Before being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday, Harden’s representatives reportedly gauged the Rockets’ interest in a reunion. Despite the team’s desperate need for a primary playmaker, Houston “showed little interest” in their former MVP.

“Harden was interested in reuniting with the Houston Rockets… but the Rockets showed little interest in their former MVP,” Shelburne reported.

Sources suggest the Rockets were wary of the high asking price—the Clippers eventually landed All-Star Darius Garland in the swap—and were concerned about the long-term fit with the team’s younger core and coach Ime Udoka’s defensive system.

Internal Pressure Mounts

The decision to stay quiet comes at a precarious time. The Rockets (31–19) have lost two straight games in blowout fashion, including a lifeless 109–99 loss to the Hornets last night. Following the game, Coach Udoka didn’t hide his frustration, specifically calling out the team’s defensive lapses in the wake of losing center Steven Adams to season-ending surgery.

With the trade door now closed, the Rockets find themselves in the 4th seed but trending downward. The focus now shifts to the buyout market, where veterans like Chris Paul (expected to be waived by Toronto) and Lonzo Ball (expected to be waived by Utah) could emerge as emergency options to stabilize the backcourt before the March 1 playoff eligibility deadline.