Should James Harden/Russell Westbrook be questioning the Rockets future?

The James Harden dilemma for the Houston Rockets

No team wants to hear that their superstars are concerned about the direction of the franchise. Which raises the question, are James Harden’s concerns a harbinger of things to come? It’s no secret that Harden wants to win a championship and his prime won’t last forever.

The question for the Houston Rockets is how can they become a contender with little room to maneuver? The most logical choice would be to move Russell Westbrook and try to build a more well-rounded roster around James Harden, but that opens another can of worms.

James Harden wanted Russell Westbrook in Houston. Moving Westbrook, after one season, might be a bridge too far for Harden, unless he is convinced that the return would truly vault the Rockets into title contention.

The Rockets are in a delicate situation with James Harden. He’s posturing that he wants substantial changes but the one substantial change they could make, moving Russell Westbrook, could cause him to want out.

James Harden will be 32-years-old when the 2021-22 season starts and only has so many elite seasons left. His chances of being a crucial cog on a championship team are dwindling and it’s clear that he has no intentions of staying for a rebuild.

James Harden hasn’t said that he wants out but he wants something that will be almost impossible to deliver, a championship roster that keeps Russell Westbrook in town.

Next: What direction are the Rockets headed?