Report: Celtics, Blazers among Harden's preferred landing spots
James Harden added the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers to a growing number of teams in which he would like to be traded to, sources told The Athletic's Sam Amick and Kelly Iko.
The Houston Rockets superstar's short list now reportedly includes those two perennial playoff squads in addition to several preferred destinations, including the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden is currently awaiting medical approval to rejoin his teammates following a mandatory four-day quarantine, which began Tuesday.
An investigation into a video clip featuring the maskless 2018 league MVP at a social gathering on Dec. 21 resulted in the league fining the 31-year-old $50,000, the highest possible figure under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Harden reportedly told team staff he misunderstood aspects of the league's new health protocols; in turn, the Rockets reemphasized the importance of the measures to its players, according to The Athletic.
While acknowledging the limitations of the fine, commissioner Adam Silver said the league ultimately decided not to suspend the three-time scoring champ.
"The precedent is that discipline gets ratcheted up," Silver said on ESPN's "The Jump" Thursday afternoon. "It's Christmas. It was a first offense."