When the Houston Rockets were conducting their coaching search, superstar shooting guard James Harden wanted the team to hire Tyronn Lue, who wound up getting promoted by the Los Angeles Clippers.
The main reason the Rockets didn't hire Lue is because owner Tilman Fertitta was interested in ESPN analyst and former Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
The Rockets eventually hired Dallas Mavericks assistant Stephen Silas.
The point here is, Harden wanted to play for Lue, who is now the Clippers’ coach. He, like a seemingly vast majority of the NBA, spends at least part of his offseasons in Los Angeles, and would probably be open to extending his stay there. He also gives the Clippers something they honestly do not have, a dynamic, scoring ball handler.
It's possible Harden wants to get traded by the Rockets because Fertitta didn't listen to him and hire Lue. Every star in the league wants the team they play for to take their suggestions seriously and it appears Houston's ownership didn't do that with Harden.
The Rockets' first preseason game is on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. Harden reported to Houston's training camp on Tuesday, but it's unclear if he'll play versus the Bulls.
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