James Harden Trade Rumors: Rockets 'More Confident' Star Will Finish Year in HOU

With no team willing to meet the asking price for James Harden to date, the Rockets are reportedly "more confident" that the 2018 NBA MVP will remain in Houston for the remainder of the season.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer said Harden still "prefers" to leave Houston but has been making public comments that give the Rockets more hope about potentially getting through this season with him on the roster.

On Saturday, Harden told reporters, "We have a lot of work to do. I think every team feels that way but for us, we're behind because we haven't had our entire team or an opportunity to work together very often. As long as we continue to find chemistry ... we have a chance to do something special."

It's worth noting that Harden played a large role in the Rockets not having had time to come together as a team. He missed a large portion of training camp after first refusing to report so he could party with Lil Baby in Atlanta and go to a club in Las Vegas, and he then had to quarantine for six days as a result of his actions.

When the regular season began, Harden was subject to a $50,000 fine for again breaking COVID-19 protocols to attend a gathering for a friend.

Harden has often looked disengaged on the floor, albeit while still putting up solid numbers. He is averaging 26.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 11.0 assists through seven starts. His points per game and shot attempts are his lowest since his second season in Houston.

The Rockets are 3-5 overall on the season and losers of three of their last four games, including a blowout against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

While it is still early in the season, Harden's future more likely depends on how the Rockets fare over the next month or two than it does any outside team swooping in with a more palatable trade offer.