John Wall didn't feel welcomed by James Harden in Houston

Tim MacMahon: Some people that I’ve talked to down there in Houston basically said, ‘Hey, there’s an understanding that James Harden really enjoys playing with Eric Gordon’. So if the rockets do not trade Eric Gordon (…) I think there’s a very real chance that the Rockets would pick up Gordon, they still would have plenty of cap space to go get Harden on a max deal. But I think if they don’t trade him, it would be likely with the plan of bringing him back next season. -via YouTube / January 19, 2023

During a recent conversation on Outta Pocket, Dinwiddie talked about the differences between Doncic and Harden, two players with a similar style of play but with a big difference in the eyes of Spencer (44:50 mark). “I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad comp. I think where there’s a separation between Luca and Harden–I think Harden probably played with a little more pace so that is where I would give him an edge. But the edges that I would give Luka, and these are pretty big ones, he participates in the defensive end. Harden, obviously, is a phenomenal player, athletically gifted and capable of doing so much… I don’t think he did. I think Luka does have some athletic deficiencies but he definitely participates and tries… He puts effort there. And also, offensively, he’s a better post-up player than Harden was.” -via Yardbarker.com / January 19, 2023

Brian Lewis: Nic Claxton: “Well, last year it was it was just kind of a toxic environment, didn’t know if everybody wanted to be here at the time this year. There’s no divide between everybody that’s out there. We’re gonna we’re gonna figure it out.” #Nets -via Twitter @NYPost_Lewis / January 18, 2023

Almost six years later, and John Wall still rues that opportunity. And in doing so, he even doubled down on what was a questionable take, even back for its time. Speaking on Theo Pinson and AJ Richardson’s Run Your Race podcast, Wall remained adamant in his belief that the 2017 Wizards would have beaten the 2017 Cavs had they faced each other in the postseason. “We was going to beat the s–t out of Bron,” Wall said, with a deadpan look on his face, per Ballislife. “I’m telling you, if you [ask] anybody from the Cavs, they all had one team they did not want to see in the East. They did not want to see us.” -via Clutch Points / January 19, 2023

Adam Spolane: In regards to John Wall telling Green and Porter that they wouldn’t be able to get away with the things they get away with in Houston anywhere else, I asked Silas if he’s handled them different than other young player he’s coached and how does he hold players accountable: pic.twitter.com/gA0PyTW8Jm -via Twitter @AdamSpolane / January 18, 2023

Kelly Iko: Stephen Silas on John Wall’s recent comments: “What John Wall went through here and the situation (he was in) was unprecedented. There was no easy way for it to go down. We tried to make it as good as possible for him as an organization…There’s frustration and I get it.” -via Twitter @KellyIko / January 18, 2023