I don't doubt that Harden asked for a trade. The writing is on the wall that Tilman will never spend the money to build a championship squad. That being said, I also have no doubt that while Harden is still Rocket, he will produce at historic levels, because he loves to hoop. He is one of those guys that would be playing in rec leagues if he wasn't good enough to play in the NBA anymore. I bet you anything he will be playing into his 40's if teams are will to pay him to do so.
