Rockets urged to trade for franchise legend to help Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun

Jeremy Beren

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Rockets urged to trade for franchise legend to help Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun image

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

After a stunning overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, the Houston Rockets have suffered defeat four times in the past six times -- and the team's issues in crunch time only seem to be growing.

The Rockets' nine losses this season have come by a combined 49 points, and they have lost four games by three points or less. Despite featuring a top-10 defense and a top-three offense after acquiring Kevin Durant in an offseason trade, Houston is only 1-4 in overtime and has fallen to sixth in the Western Conference standings.

What can't be ignored in Houston is that the Rockets are missing a natural point guard following Fred VanVleet's season-ending knee injury. Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague though has a solution, and it involves a reunion with a familiar bearded face.

"They need to trade for James Harden," Teague said on the Club 520 podcast. "(The Rockets should) tell James you want him to play like he was in Brooklyn. Be the point guard."

Despite his acrimonious split from the Rockets in 2021, Harden remains one of the greatest players in franchise history. A pending free agent, Harden could well be on the move again amidst the Los Angeles Clippers' tumble down the standings and his own quest to win his first NBA championship.

If Houston were to pull off this wild trade, Teague thinks that Rockets coach Ime Udoka would have a playoff-ready team with two former MVPs -- Harden and Kevin Durant -- leading the way.

"James is still playing at a high level right now, but I think he'd be motivated," Teague said. "I think he knows he'd have a real chance to do something in the West."

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