Rockets Think James Harden Will Attract Other Stars to Houston

Rockets GM Daryl Morey expects James Harden to not only sign a lucrative long-term deal, but to also make his job easier by helping to recruit other stars to Houston. From the Houston Chronicle: “People around the league say, ‘I want to play with that guy,’ Morey said as Harden was introduced to Rockets fans today. ‘The way Omer (Asik) is playing and passing the ball, people want to be with him. Jeremy. Really putting together a young core that will make others say ‘I want to play there.’ Morey emphasized that the Rockets are in position to add more. ‘We have max salary room moving forward,’ he said. ‘It’s there for the right player when the time is right.’ Harden, who won the Sixth Man Award last season for Oklahoma City, is the first piece. ‘You have to have a foundational player,’ Morey said. ‘He is. Simple as that. Now we need to add another player, or have one of our current players develop. You need two All-Stars to win in this league. We’re not there yet. But he changes the whole dynamic.'”