Rockets' James Harden trade regret grows after playoff failure

James Harden could have been the solution to the Rockets' biggest problems this season, but Houston chose not to pursue him according to an ESPN inside report. The Rockets struggled without a reliable point guard in the playoffs and are now headed for a tumultuous offseason. They must be regretting their decision on Harden now as he advances to the second round of the playoffs and the Rockets are stuck watching at home.

The Rockets could have used Harden in the playoffs

Although the Rockets were afraid that Harden's addition could hurt their young core's development, his omission may have done just that. Houston faces tough questions about its youngsters now because they didn't have a real point guard to facilitate the offense. Many of those young players were overtasked on offense because they lacked someone like Harden.

It's true there would have been some disadvantages to having both Harden and Durant on the same team, namely the advanced timeline of their ages. But having two veteran stars to carry the offensive load would have made things easier for the Rockets' young players. The youngsters could have fit into their roles better and had the offensive talent on their roster to win a round or two.

And making a deep playoff run with a true point guard could also help the development of Houston's young core. The experience of playing (and winning) in high-pressure situations can help players add new elements to their game. Harden could have also been a valuable mentor for the potential future ball handlers on the Rockets' roster, such as Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson.

James Harden is still performing at a high level

Even 5 years after leaving the Rockets, Harden is still playing like an All-Star. He was arguably the Cavaliers' best player in their first-round victory over the Raptors, boosting the offense with his incredible combination of scoring and playmaking. For the series, Harden averaged 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists per game.

Meanwhile, the Rockets were a bottom-three team in the first round when it came to points and assists per game. Their offense desperately lacked a lead guard of Harden's caliber despite having opportunities to address that obvious weakness during the season. Houston's struggles in the playoffs were pronounced, but they weren't surprising by any means.

Everybody knew that the Rockets lacked a real point guard from the moment Fred VanVleet suffered an injury in the preseason. They should have pounced on Harden the moment they had an opportunity, because he would have given them a real chance to evaluate their young core and compete for a title while they still have Kevin Durant on the team.

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