Rockets star James Harden missed the team’s first group practice on Sunday due to not having cleared the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN .
© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets guard James Harden failed to attend the team’s first practice of training camp.
Head coach Stephen Silas said after the group practice that he expected Harden to participate in an individual workout on Sunday night, but the former MVP didn’t return for that workout, either, per MacMahon. However, Harden did tell Rockets management that he’ll report soon, a source informed ESPN.
Harden’s situation is worth keeping an eye on, since he reportedly sought a trade during the offseason. Silas told reporters last Thursday that he was giving the superstar guard “space,” as reports on that same day indicated that Harden wasn’t in Houston while the team took part in individual workouts. TMZ later reported that he had been in Atlanta for rapper Lil Baby’s birthday party.
The NBA’s coronavirus protocols called for players to quarantine at home last week except for essential activities, as well as workouts and COVID-19 tests at the team’s facility. Players were required to return three consecutive negative PCR tests before being cleared to participate in individual workouts.
It sounds like Harden will probably report to the Rockets and receive clearance within the next few days, at which point he’ll likely speak to reporters for the first time. His commitment to the Rockets figures to be the primary focus during that first media session — so far, his teammates and head coach have bore the brunt of those inquiries.
As MacMahon details, new Rockets point guard John Wall said this weekend that he had a “great talk” with Harden and “for sure” believes his new backcourt mate wants to play for the Rockets this season. Silas, meanwhile, said last Thursday that he expected Harden to be “all-in” with Houston for 2020-21. Asked again on Sunday about Harden’s commitment, Silas replied, “That’s a question you’re going to have to ask him when he gets here.”
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Related slideshow: The 25 highest-paid NBA players (Provided by Yardbarker)
The 26 highest-paid NBA players
Every NBA regular is well paid, but some guys are bringing home the bacon big time. These are the 26 most lucrative NBA contracts based on average value. Figures are via Spotrac and include extensions that have not yet kicked in.
Jayson Tatum
Why is this list 26 players? Because four players all have the exact same contract. They all happen to be guys who just signed max deals off of their rookie deals. Each of the next four names, Tatum included, have signed five year contracts worth a little over $163 million, or about $32.6 million in annual cash.
De’Aaron Fox
Fox is known for his speed, and the Kings will be hoping the speed stays with him as he gets older. Hey, he’s only 22, so he’ll still be in his prime when this deal is over. While the Kings haven’t won much with Fox as their starting point guard, he just averaged over 20 points per game for the first time in his career. Fox isn’t the issue in Sacramento.
Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell just made his first All-Star team in 2020, and it likely won’t be his last. He’s a dynamic scorer who has averaged over 20 points per contest in all four seasons of his career. The Louisville product is athlete and can attack the basket with gusto. He and Rudy Gobert complement each other well for the Jazz.
Bam Adebayo
The Heat know how to find a gem in the NBA Draft. In his third season in the league, the man known as Bam turned himself into a point forward, averaging a double-double on points and rebounds while also contributing five assists per game. Some thought the Heat would wait to sign Adebayo to a deal to save money for going after Giannis Antetokounmpo. Instead, Miami signed their young forward to a deal worth $32.6 million annually.
C.J. McCollum
McCollum is forever playing second fiddle to Damian Lillard, who you will see later on this list. The Lehigh alum has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last four seasons and is also one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. He will earn around $33 million on average through the rest of his deal.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie is polarizing, both in his play and in his personality. There is a reason he’s basically been drummed out of two towns, and he hasn’t exactly gotten along great with his teammates in Brooklyn. Still, there will always be somebody to tolerate Irving given his ability. Few people can attack the basket like Kyrie, who makes around $34 million a year.
Pascal Siakam
Nobody would have seen this coming when Siakam was drafted by the Raptors. In fact, in his rookie season he spent time in the G League. However, in his third season he won Most Improved Player, and some thought he could arguably win it again in 2020 based on how he’s turned himself into one of the best players in the NBA. He signed a $137-million contract extension last year.
Paul George
George is the first player on this last who signed his huge deal with a different team than his current one. PG, who will make $34 million this year, signed his deal with the Thunder but has since been traded to the Clippers (at Kawhi Leonard’s behest). He and Kawhi are a true dynamic duo, as they are both elite players on both sides of the court. Although, people will complain about his performance in the playoffs once again.
Blake Griffin
Speaking of the Clippers, Griffin signed his hefty contract, worth $171 million, with L.A. However, he has since been traded to the Pistons. His first full season in Detroit went really well, as he averaged 24.5 points per game. Unfortunately, this past season he suffered through injuries and played in only 18 games — and there are still a couple of years left on the deal.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi has played things pretty perfectly. He forced his way out of San Antonio, went to Toronto and completely salvaged his reputation. Leonard was great, and he helped the Raptors win their first title. Then he took over the offseason by signing with the Clippers and getting Paul George to join him. Plus, he’s normalized “load management” and yet he’s still getting over $34 million per season.
Jimmy Butler
Players as good as Butler rarely move around that much. However, it seems like the 31-year-old may have finally found his home in Miami. So far, Butler has earned his contract on the court, even though his average salary is over $34 million per year. It seems like he’s fitting in for once, and he led Miami to the NBA Finals in the bubble.
Kemba Walker
Playing in Charlotte, Walker was often overlooked. It’s not like the Hornets are ever on TV. And yet he was an All-Star in his last three seasons with the Hornets and then did it again in his first season with the Celtics, his current team. He will make $35 million this season.
Ben Simmons
Yes, Simmons can’t shoot. Yes, he’s extremely hesitant to shoot threes. On the other hand, who cares? He’s an elite passer who can defend all five positions. The man is the size of a center with the passing skills of an All-Star point guard. Even if he never learns to shoot, and he’s still young, he’ll still be a great player in this league. He signed a five-year extension last year worth $177 million.
Khris Middleton
Right now Middleton is the highest-paid player on the Bucks, on a five-year, $177 million deal. Sure, that’s because Giannis is on his rookie deal still, and there are questions if the Bucks will be able to afford to re-sign him. That doesn’t mean Middleton isn’t worth the money. A second-round pick who was once an afterthought in a trade, he’s turned into one of the best players in the league. Maybe it’s a little surprising he’s quite this high up the list, but nobody can quibble with his contract.
Bradley Beal
People seem to think that it is inevitable that Beal will leave Washington eventually, and he was talked about as a trade target before signing his new deal, worth around $127 million. There’s two years left on that extension, which paying him an average of almost $36 million. Beal is a great player, and maybe pairing with a new teammate in Russell Westbrook will work out better for him.
Tobias Harris
With all due respect to Harris, a fine player, he’s a perfect example of a guy hitting the market at the right time. He’s never been an All-Star and has averaged 20 points per game only once in his career. However, he was a free agent last summer, and the 76ers knew they couldn’t keep everybody. The did hold on to Harris though, which meant he got a deal worth a whopping $36 million per season.
Klay Thompson
Thompson has done some crazy stuff in his career. One time he scored 37 points…in one quarter. He’s a great shooter and a perfect foil to Steph Curry. Part of that is his defensive skill. Curry is not a stalwart on that end, but Thompson has made the All-Defense Second Team once. He signed a five-year, $190 million deal a couple years ago, but unfortunately has been hit horrifically by the injury bug. Klay missed all of his first season under his new deal, and will now miss the 2020-2021 season as well with an Achilles injury.
Anthony Davis
You may quibble with how Davis got himself out of New Orleans, but the results were just what the Brow wanted. AD was dealt to the Lakers where he and LeBron joined forces to win a title. With James now 36, Davis is the future of this franchise. He’s also the owner of a new contract for five years and almost $190 million.
Chris Paul
Some people said Paul’s contract is an albatross. After all, he’s 35 and won’t be a free agent until the summer of 2022. On the other hand, he’s still an All-Star-level player, which is why the Suns were willing to trade for him. Yes, he’s lost a step, and he’s likely to lose another before his contract, worth $160 million, is up. It takes money to afford a veteran who is a future Hall of Famer.
Stephen Curry
Curry is the first player on this list averaging over $40 million a season. That’s what happens when you are maybe the best shooter in NBA history. Steph’s play has helped revolutionize the NBA. He can make a three from anywhere, and that’s how he has won two MVPs and three NBA titles. His first deal he signed was a steal because there were worries about his ankles. In a way, this deal kind of feels like a steal as well.
Kevin Durant
Durant and Curry were teammates for a minute there, and Durant got a couple of rings. He also caught a lot of flak for gunning for a title by joining the Warriors juggernaut. This was in spite of the fact that — shield your eyes, Curry fans — he was the best player on those Golden State teams. Now Durant is with the Nets…or at least he will be once his Achilles heals. His Brooklyn deal is worth $164 million over four years.
Russell Westbrook
Hey, another of Durant’s former teammates! Westbrook was the last man standing in Oklahoma City, and he averaged a triple-double for three seasons in a row, something previously unthinkable. After a stint with Houston, the mercurial guard has now been moved once again, this time to Washington for the next guy on the list. Sure, Westbrook can’t shoot threes, but he knows how to get buckets and earn his average salary of $41 million.
John Wall
Honestly, we would have figured Wall had an untradeable contract. Wall was a great player in his prime, but he’s suffered a brutal, cruel run of injury. During the 2018-19 season it was a season-ending heel injury, and then he tore his Achilles tendon at home while recovering from that injury. Wall has not returned to the court since December 2018, but he’s still getting paid a ton of cash, nearly $43 million. And yet, the Rockets were willing to take him on (plus a draft pick) in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
James Harden
You may not like the way the Beard plays, but you can’t argue with results. He’s led the league in points per game the last three seasons, including averaging a staggering 36.1 points per game last year. When all is said and dude, he will lead the league again in points this year and is going to average comfortably over 30 points…again. Harden’s basketball philosophy melded perfectly with Houston’s, but will that still be true with a new head coach and GM in place? There have been murmurs of Harden’s desire to be traded, but for now he is in Houston on a four-year, $171-million contract.
LeBron James
When LeBron first signed with the Lakers, he was making “only” $38 million because the team didn’t have his Bird Rights or anything. Now he’s won a ring in the purple and gold and has seen his average annual value boosted up to a little under $43 million. That’s a lot of money for a 36-year-old, but LeBron isn’t your average 36-year-old.
Damian Lillard
We now arrive at the highest-paid player in the NBA. The Blazer is making an average of $44 million per season. He just signed a brand-new extension with a team that owned his Bird rights, which means Portland could pay him more money than any team could pay a player previously. Lillard is deserving of it. He’s an elite shooter and scorer who has made four All-NBA teams already. Now he has the richest deal in the league.
27/27 SLIDES
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