Prominent writer doubles down on James Harden’s trade request from Rockets

On Tuesday morning, Frank Isola, one of the more prominent NBA sources, doubled down on James Harden’s reported trade request from the Houston Rockets.

When reports first surfaced that James Harden wanted out of the Houston Rockets, a scramble ensued to figure out who was really in the know. We had heard from Shams Sharania of The Athletic that Harden was committed to sticking it out with the team after it was reported that Russell Westbrook reportedly asked to be dealt.

It was also reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Harden was seeking to be sent specifically to the Brooklyn Nets, as Wojnarowksi reported that Harden and Durant had been training together throughout the offseason, and that Durant had essentially been recruiting Harden to join him in Brooklyn. The Rockets have done their best to quell the rumors, as they’ve been adamant about not moving Harden, opting to instead build a formidable contender around him.

The Rockets signed Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins, providing Harden with two talented big men simultaneously, which he’s never had in his NBA career, and certainly not during his Houston Rockets tenure. In spite of the Rockets’ lack of desire to deal Harden, we’ve still heard rumblings that Harden will get dealt, as NBA insider Amin Elhassan recently reported that he’s heard that Harden will eventually be moved.

Isola doubles down on Harden’s trade request from Houston Rockets

On Tuesday morning, Elhassan’s Sirius XM NBA colleague, Frank Isola, doubled down on the report that Harden wants out, during Sirius XM’s morning NBA show The Starting Lineup.

“We had that confirmed by somebody pretty plugged in that Harden definitely wants out. And he told them trade me to Brooklyn. And I’m only doing it if I’m the Nets if I can trade Kyrie Irving.”

The latter part of Isola’s quote is interesting, although he clearly emphasized that he was stating what he would do if he was in the Nets brainpower, rather than what’s been discussed. Isola’s counterpart Brian Scalabrine chimed in on a specific Irving-for Harden swap.

“I don’t think it’s true but I know people say this. That they would do it if they could get Kyrie. The Rockets would do it if they could get Kyrie.

I think that’s insanely stupid to do. James Harden for Kyrie Irving? I can’t imagine that happening. But alot of people are like, ‘No, they want Kyrie.’ How is that possible?”

Houston Rockets beat writer Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported that the franchise is confident that Harden and Russell Westbrook will be prepared to move past their rumored displeasure with returning to the team, but still want to first see it for themselves.

With the NBA offseason now officially over, we’ll find out sooner than later if that’s true.