New James Harden Trade Rumors Reveal Rockets' Concerns on Adding Star During 2025-26 NBA Season

Fred VanVleet's season-ending torn ACL in September would have made a reunion between the Houston Rockets and James Harden understandable, given the need for a point guard.

But the Rockets reportedly weren't interested.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, "As fondly as they still regarded Harden, there was a wariness about how he would affect the development of Alperen Şengün, Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson."

The team utilized Sheppard in the backcourt alongside Thompson during the playoffs, with the duo combining to average 10.4 assists and 4.5 turnovers per game during the first-round exit against the Los Angeles Lakers.

But throughout much of the season, the lack of a true playmaking point guard hurt Houston. Harden would have changed their style of play beyond what Ime Udoka and the front office wanted, though a natural facilitator was still missing.

"We're not really looking for a heliocentric player, as great as James still is," one team source told ESPN. "We want to develop Reed, we want to develop Amen and we want the ball in Alpy's hands."

"We weren't going to put the ball in [Harden's] hands, so why would you trade for James if you're not going to give him the ball?" another added.

One would imagine Houston would prioritize the point guard position this offseason, at least to ensure it has a veteran option behind VanVleet. A first-round exit is a major disappointment for a team who added Kevin Durant to help get its young core over the hump (though his injury issues in the playoffs didn't help matters).

The Harden ship has obviously sailed after he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, and he may not have even been the right missing piece. But the Rockets clearly need to reconfigure their roster around the young core they've constructed.