Everything with the Rockets still seemed to have storm clouds threatening Thursday night. But when Christian Wood made a strong move off the dribble and finished with his left hand, there might have been a temptation to think of what could be.
The uncertainty with James Harden’s trade preference hung over the Rockets’ final preseason tuneup, but then Wood would take a rebound on one end and go coast-to-coast to finish at the other.
The offseason difficulties that led to the awkwardness of the preseason were inescapable. But Wood, the Rockets’ top free agency target and most important acquisition, excelled in his first preseason game, offering a glimpse of what the Rockets saw in him.
While another wave of reports about the ongoing potential of Harden’s getting his wish to be traded swirled, the player who chose to join him led the Rockets to a 128-106 preseason romp past the Spurs.
By the time Harden finished his stint with a 3-pointer and a between-the-legs pocket pass to a cutting Wood and the Rockets’ lead had swelled to as much as 34 before the benches were cleared, it almost seemed as if the marriage could be saved.
Almost, but not quite.
The Athletic had reported that Philadelphia would be willing to deal star Ben Simmons to get Harden, inspiring former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, now running the 76ers, to say he won’t. ESPN reported that the Rockets are speaking with teams beyond Harden’s wish list and that teams are increasingly willing to add him despite the uncertainty with his contract, which has two seasons remaining before his option year.
The Rockets have been willing to explore their options but will not make any trade to satisfy Harden’s preferences unless they believe it benefits them, two individuals with knowledge of the team’s thinking said. They are seeking a star successor to Harden, both said, along with a package of young assets or draft picks, a deal the 76ers or Nets, Harden’s initial preferences, could not put together to the Rockets’ satisfaction without the Sixers including Simmons.
Though he is unlikely to change his mind, Harden saw as much as a preseason game — played with DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall sitting out for load management — can offer to give him reason to reconsider.
By halftime, Wood had played 14 minutes, pairing 16 points with eight rebounds. If that wasn’t enough to inspire Harden to march over to general manager Rafael Stone and declare “never mind,” it gave the Rockets something to enjoy before the final push to the regular-season opener Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
When Wood was through in his preseason debut, he had 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting with a pair of 3s and 10 rebounds.
Harden also showed ample flashes among the still-evident rust. He began well, defending and moving smartly, firing some familiar passes, and running the pick-and-roll that had been generally dropped from the Rockets’ offense in the latter half of last season.
He also moved without the ball more often, twice repositioning to take corner 3s off ball movement, as many of that sort of shot that generally would take him a month to launch. He made six of 10 shots for his 15 first-half points, and the Rockets led 60-45.
The defense that started so well, with the help of the Spurs’ atrocious shooting, faded a bit with waves of reach-in fouls. The Spurs missed their first 15 3-pointers, looking as if either Gregg Popovich had been running them hard through the preseason or they might have to go back to leading the NBA in long jumpers two steps inside the 3-point line.
Harden chose in the second half to spend stretches facilitating the offense around him. He collected eight of his nine assists in the third quarter, seeming to increasingly relish the passes he could successfully send Wood’s way before dropping in a floater and a final 3.
How long Harden will be around to do that remains a question. But the Rockets at least got to enjoy themselves while waiting to find out the answer.
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December 18, 2020 at 10:35AM
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Christian Wood shows why Rockets acquired him in preseason win over Spurs - Houston Chronicle
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