Rockets head coach Stephen Silas has been giving the team’s luminary player, James Harden, ‘space’ in the midst of an offseason that has presented a few unexpected twists and turns.
Less than a month ago it was reported that both Harden and Russell Westbrook wanted out of Houston—and earlier this week, the team traded Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall in an unexpected blockbuster deal.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Harden has reportedly informed the Rockets’ organization that he wants to join the Brooklyn Nets and get a “fresh start” on a team with Kyrie Irving and former teammate Kevin Durant.
With everything going on, Silas has decided to give the Rockets’ 2017-18 MVP some space:
“When stuff like this kind of happens where there’s a little indecision and stuff going on, I kind of take a step back and allow guys some space,” Silas said per ESPN.
“From my perspective, my communication has been, ‘I’m giving you space,’ and that’s kind of where it’s been as far as my communication with him. Guys like that need that. They need to figure it out, and they don’t need someone banging on them all the time to kind of figure out where they’re at and whatnot.”
Silas also says that he is not looking to “change things drastically” with his offensive lineup following the Westbrook and Wall trade, and he is hopeful that Harden will be ready for showtime once training camp begins:
“We’re going to try to change things to make it a little bit more diverse, but he’s going to have the ball quite a bit,” Silas says, adding:
“I’m confident that he’ll be all-in. That’s where I’m leaving it. As I said, I’m giving him his space to do his thing, but I’m confident that he’ll be here when we get started.”
