Report: James Harden will lead effort to recruit Kevin Durant to Houston
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The Houston Rockets front office has asked star James Harden to be the main recruiter in the team’s effort to lure Kevin Durant away from Oklahoma City, reports Calvin Watkins of ESPN.
Durant's impending 2016 free agency has been a major source of speculation for years. While he hasn’t given any signs that he wants to play for a new team, Houston is reportedly trying to put itself in a position to land one of the NBA’s top players.
When asked about the impending free agency period, Harden said that he is just looking for the team to improve.
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“In order to put yourself as an elite team, you always got to have talent, right?” Harden said. “You always got to get better and find ways to improve. That's any team.”
Harden started his career with the Thunder, playing three seasons alongside Durant. Even after leaving the team to take over a leading role with the Rockets, Harden has maintained a friendship with his former teammate.
The Rockets (38–39) currently sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, one game back of the Utah Jazz.
