From late 2022 until June 2023, widespread rumors swirled throughout the NBA of a potential reunion in free agency between the Houston Rockets and former franchise icon James Harden.
But in the final weeks prior to free agency, something seemed to shift, and the Rockets ultimately signed Toronto’s Fred VanVleet — rather than Harden — to that lead guard role.
Buy Rockets TicketsMultiple reports have suggested the hiring of Ime Udoka as head coach in the spring of 2023 was a key factor in Houston’s pivot, and Udoka largely confirms that in a new ESPN story.
As part of a story by ESPN’s Zach Lowe on Jalen Green, who often needs to operate with the basketball in his hands, Udoka argues VanVleet is a better complement to Green in such a scenario.
VanVleet’s ability to work off the ball is one reason Houston’s decision-makers, including Udoka, preferred VanVleet over a free agency reunion with Harden.
“Nothing against James,” Udoka told ESPN, “but Fred is just a better fit. I coached James in Brooklyn. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around. The words ‘Ime doesn’t want James’ never came out of my mouth. It was, ‘Let’s look at the best fit.’ If we want Jalen and the young guys to take the next steps, we need them to have the ball. As for me saying I don’t want James, that was never the case. It was about fit.”
With that, Udoka’s long-rumored stance is officially on the record. Harden remains in Philadelphia, though he has asked for a trade.
New column: Why Jalen Green is my most intriguing player for the upcoming season — what he means to the Rockets, and what the franchise has going after 3 losing seasons:https://t.co/0mE7juhc00
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) October 5, 2023
