NBA regular season continues, the Rockets, who have suffered two consecutive defeats, have dropped to third place in the Western Conference, with teams like the Mavericks, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Spurs, Warriors, and Suns all in hot pursuit. Any misstep could see them exit the playoff race. Fred VanVleet has become one of the most disappointing players for the Rockets this season, earning $42.85 million but averaging only 15.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of just 37.9% and a three-point percentage of 32.7%. The Rockets management holds his team option for next summer, and it is expected that General Manager Rafael Stone will not continue to execute his final year's max contract. To ensure securing a playoff spot, GM Rafael Stone hopes to strengthen the team through the trade market, aiming to find an All-Star level player to further enhance the overall strength of the Rockets. Recently, Jake Fischer, a reporter for American media outlet "Bleacher Report," suggested that the Rockets should target 76ers' All-Star small forward Paul George as their top priority for recruitment. The 76ers have had a poor record this season, currently ranking 11th in the Eastern Conference, and even if they manage to enter the playoffs, it is unlikely they will make significant progress. George's performance this season has been subpar, and his four-year, $212 million contract has already severely limited the 76ers' salary cap space. The journalist provided a 3-for-1 trade offer to both the Rockets and the 76ers, and if negotiations go smoothly, VanVleet and Tari Eason…

The decision by the Clippers to part ways with Paul George during this offseason has been controversial, but from the perspective of long-term planning, financial flexibility, and team competitiveness, it may be a practical one. George's performance remained stable last season, but considering his age of 34 and injury history, coupled with his desire for a four-year, $212 million maximum contract, the Clippers' choice not to renew his contract was a wise move. Firstly, the Clippers' decision to let George go is a reasonable choice based on financial considerations. George's demands not only include high salaries but also come with a no-trade clause, which is a limitation for the Clippers. If the Clippers had accepted his demands, they would have faced greater salary pressure over the next four years. This would undoubtedly have been a huge burden on their future salary cap space. Despite the strong financial resources of the Clippers' owner, Steve Ballmer, even he must reassess spending due to the NBA's "second luxury tax threshold" system. The second luxury tax threshold is not just about high luxury tax penalties but also includes a series of operational restrictions, such as freezing draft picks, being unable to conduct multi-contract aggregation trades, having no mid-level exception or trade exception, etc., which limits the team's ability to operate flexibly. Secondly, the Clippers' choice also reflects their plans for the future. George's contract would have been one year longer than that of another core player, Kawhi Leonard, and the Clippers clearly do not want to invest too much energy in aging players. Instead,…

As the second and third leaders of the Clippers last season, Paul George and Harden have both had brilliant careers, garnering numerous honors and achievements. Even though they are now in the twilight of their careers, both are still core players for their respective teams, holding important tactical positions and roles within the team. At 35 years old, Harden has delivered his best performance in recent seasons. In the absence of Paul George and with Leonard out for the season, Harden has become the undisputed leader of the Clippers this season. With increased ball possession and status, Harden has put forth a highly convincing performance. To date, Harden has played 29 games for the Clippers, averaging 33.9 minutes per game, scoring 22 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds, dishing out 8.1 assists, making 1.5 steals, and blocking 0.6 shots, with a shooting percentage of 38.9%, a three-point percentage of 34.5%, and a free throw percentage of 89.3%. Although Harden's efficiency is low this season, his contributions and influence on the team go far beyond what the statistics can show. Judging solely from the data, Harden remains among the top guards in the league. Despite facing numerous challenges, Harden has led the Clippers to an impressive record of 17 wins and 13 losses, ranking seventh in the West. Although he cannot match his peak offensive threat, Harden is still a heavily relied upon offensive point for the Clippers this season. He has scored a total of 639 points with an average of 22 points, making him the team's second-highest scorer, and even achieving…

As former leaders and third brothers, both Durant and Harden have had brilliant careers and have been at the forefront of their respective positions for a long time. Even now in the twilight of their careers, Durant and Harden continue to deliver competitive performances and are the core and leaders of their respective teams. The 35-year-old Harden has experienced a resurgence this season. In the absence of Paul George and with Leonard out for the season, Harden has regained control of the ball and demonstrated the capabilities of a top-tier dual-threat guard in the league. To date, Harden has played 29 games for the Clippers, averaging 33.9 minutes per game, scoring 22 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds, dishing out 8.1 assists, making 1.5 steals, and blocking 0.6 shots, with a shooting percentage of 38.9%, a three-point percentage of 34.5%, and a free-throw percentage of 89.3%. Although Harden's efficiency is low this season, his influence and contributions to the team are immeasurable. In terms of statistics, Harden remains among the top guards in the league and is still the core of the Clippers' offensive organization. In the absence of star teammates, Harden has led the Clippers to a commendable record of 17 wins and 13 losses, ranking seventh in the West. With increased playing time and status, Harden's offensive stats have also risen significantly. This season, Harden has scored a total of 639 points with an average of 22 points, making him the second-highest scorer on the team, a significant improvement from last season! On the other hand, the 36-year-old Durant has…