A Houston Rockets Tale of Fat Suits, Cap Holds and Wizards

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SHUT UP AND LISTEN is the name of Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta's entrepreneurial mind book. After the rising success of his team this past season improving to a 41-41 record after three consecutive seasons as the NBA's laughing stock, I'm entitled to listen.

Fertitta described last season's success as "Phase Two" of three-phased plan to return the Rockets to relevancy. Members of the NBA's primetime media were seemingly so out of touch with the team that they believed the Houston Rockets were still tanking last year as they selected Reed Sheppard with the 3rd pick in the 2024 NBA draft. The lack of knowledge surrounding the Rockets results from national broadcasts like ESPN's hyper-focus on large market teams or superstars with elongated standings in the public mind.

Yet, the upcoming season is the most important for Fertitta and General Manager Rafael Stone, with elected cornerpieces such as Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Fred Van Vleet all meeting at a crossroads.

The Beard

Houston and James Harden are conjoined at the seam, it's hard to consider one without the other. Though its been 5 years since Harden was in H Town, his impact still reverbates throughout the franchise in more ways than one. It was not only last summer newly appointed coach Ime Udoka was left with the decision of bringing back the 33 year old MVP or establish his own vision.

A grand return, a Naismith Hall of Famer returning to shepherd a young core that was floundering under former head coach Stephen Silas. Instead, Udoka decided upon floor setter Fred Van Vleet in the 2023 free agency and Harden was eventually traded to the LA Clippers from Philadelphia (and Daryl Morey the Liar) after weaponising his $48 million player option.

Despite not lacing up for the Rockets, Harden continues to serve the franchise that gave him a role as primary well, all because he asked out in the first place.

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No ways about it, what James Harden wants, James Harden gets. Actually, it might be a bit unfair to indict only The Beard, whatever a NBA superstar wants a superstar (rightfully) gets. So in January 2021, Hardens patience with the Rockets had fully waned and he demanded a trade to two destinations, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets. How he did it is what birthed the mystery of the fat suit.

It was clear in the month of January that Harden had down tools with 21 points being the highest mark he reached in the five games he played. This wasn't James Harden, and he didn't want to be. During his final five games in Houston, Harden's production plummeted to 17.4 points on 37.8% shooting while the Rockets dropped four of five games. Alas, in his final game against the Los Angeles Lakers Harden told reporters the Rockets were "just not good enough."

Corporate wants you to spot the difference between these two pictures

They're two different pictures, four days apart?

A day after the Lakers game, Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for an unprecedented haul.

Houston sent Harden to the Nets in a four-team deal involving multiple players. Brooklyn sent Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs, three unprotected first-round picks (2022, 2024, 2026), and four first-round swaps (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027) to the Rockets. 

The Cavaliers sent Dante Exum, a 2022 first-round pick (from the Milwaukee Bucks) to the Rockets, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Nets. Jarret Allen and Taurean Prince went to Cleveland in the deal. 

The Indiana Pacers were involved via the Rockets. Houston sent LeVert and a 2023 second-round pick to the Pacers for Victor Oladipo.