“Me personally, I think they need to build around number 28,” Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards tells @BigSargeSportz. “That dude is something serious. We had to game plan for him.” #Rockets…

After ranking No. 22 in net defensive rating over the season’s first nine games, the Rockets have improved to No. 3 after trading Harden.

Led by a pair of All-Stars and recent MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Houston seems to capture lots of television interest.

It’s a busy Monday for the Rockets, who attended the afternoon service in Los Angeles and still plan to play basketball in Houston at night.

“As of right now, it’s an emphatic no from the Rockets’ side,” Shams Charania said. “It’s really a non-starter for that organization.”

“It’s my city,” Green told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. “Not just the Rockets, but this whole city means everything to me.”

Sam Cassell is reported to be a head coaching consideration for the Rockets, and several of his former teammates seem to like the idea.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe on the rebuilding Rockets: “There just aren’t many teams that are this well set up for the future, in the whole league. Free agents will go to Houston.”

“What I’ve heard is he looks terrific in his physicals and did a great job in his rehab,” per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

“Houston is in the mix, as well,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said. “From what I’m hearing, he could be in H-Town either Friday or Saturday.”

“What I’ve heard in league circles is that James Harden’s return is being treated as an inevitability,” says Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) of NBC’s Houston affiliate. #Rockets

Rookie center Alperen Sengun tells The Athletic’s Kelly Iko that he plans to work with legendary Rockets big man Hakeem Olajuwon on post footwork.

Before P.J. Tucker’s turnover, the NBA says Oklahoma City guard Dennis Schroder fouled Houston’s Eric Gordon away from the play.

The Rockets want “to make their core players believe again in the team’s championship chances,” per the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.

Per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Rockets would like to take whatever assets they get for Victor Oladipo and turn those into Gordon.

“I’m not trading James Harden,” Smith said. “I’m holding onto him for dear life, because the brother is too special. Harden is an icon.”

Green has been training privately in Houston as he ramps up his recovery from a broken foot, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

“We expect to win more ballgames this coming season, and we expect to make a big move (the) next year,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta tells the Houston Chronicle.

Through his new restaurant “Thirteen” in midtown Houston, Harden is giving out 3,000 meals on Saturday to anyone in need.

After a strong start to the 2020-21 NBA season, Christian Wood is among USA Basketball’s invitees for the 2021 Olympics player pool.

Stephen Silas: “We’re going to figure out a way if he doesn’t get picked up by somebody else for him to be a Rocket, which he should be.”

“We’re going to bring back the pinstripes from last year, because there was such great energy around that uniform,” says Julian Duncan, Houston’s chief marketing and strategy officer.

Tucker is hopeful that he can work out an extension with the Rockets this offseason, a league source told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Jordan spoke with Westbrook and Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul to better understand the concerns of NBA players who were reluctant to play.

“As long as we continue to find chemistry… we have a chance to do something special,” said Harden, who spoke after Saturday’s practice.

“Both sides are said to be on the same page in terms of wanting Tucker to stick around past the 2020-21 season,” reports Kelly Iko.

Spurs guard Dejounte Murray reflects on Cleveland’s trade of Kevin Porter Jr. to Houston: “A mistake they will regret forever!”

“Among their own free agents, the Rockets are expected to seek to bring back center/forward Jeff Green,” Jonathan Feigen writes.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the trade was made in part based on the Rockets’ desire to start Kevin Porter Jr. now.

Spanish forward Usman Garuba has reportedly reached a buyout agreement with Real Madrid, which allows him to officially join the Rockets.

James Harden remains committed to the Rockets and is “locked in” for the upcoming NBA season, per Shams Charania and Kelly Iko.

ESPN draft guru Jonathan Givony on Jaden Ivey: “The idea of constructing arguably the most explosive backcourt in the NBA is said to be intriguing for Rockets brass.”

Rockets rookie Usman Garuba: “I like to watch Draymond Green a lot. There are tons of clips of him on my iPad. I learn a lot from him. He makes everything easier for the Warriors.”

Wall had 13 points (60% FG) and nine assists in 19 minutes, while Cousins scored 14 points and made three 3-pointers in 15 minutes.

CJ Paul: “We thought Houston was going to be the last stop, and now it’s been two more. Daryl Morey said he wasn’t going to trade Chris.”

The Heat would pursue a trade for Rockets star James Harden if he’s made available, a source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Chris Paul reflects on his two-year stint in Houston: “Most of all, I wish I would’ve been able to stay healthy.”

“I’m told there’s not much interest on Houston’s part in any type of deal with them, unless it includes Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant.”

Houston sports media personality Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) is the new courtside reporter for #Rockets game broadcasts on AT&T SportsNet, replacing Cayleigh Griffin.

Olajuwon was Houston’s No. 1 overall pick in 1984 and went on to become one of the most successful top selections in NBA history.

Kenyon Martin Sr. says that watching his son with the Houston Rockets is more nerve-wracking than anything from his playing career.

“In recent days, I’ve understood that Houston is no longer an option for James [Harden],” @KellyIko reports. “I would call them out of the running.” #Rockets

New Rockets guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Josh Christopher joined former Houston star James Harden at his JH-Town celebrity softball game.

U.S. Senator and longtime Houston sports fan Ted Cruz seemingly wants the Rockets to pursue Kyrie Irving via trade. It could be difficult.

Hakeem Olajuwon, James Harden, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, and Charles Barkley were among Tuesday’s honorees for the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

Harden joins Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson as the only NBA players to have led the league in total points and steals in the same season.

Kendrick Perkins on Rockets coach Stephen Silas: “He’s one of the best, as far as putting guys in position to be successful, offensively.”

Westbrook left an $8,000 tip and a “virtually spotless” room at the Grand Floridian, per Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.

Houston’s decision not to play John Wall is based on a desire to give Kevin Porter Jr. more work at point guard, ESPN reports.

Per The Athletic, there appears to be no video connecting House and the woman, and she denies having been in contact with him.

U.S. Senator and longtime Houston sports fan Ted Cruz seemingly wants the Rockets to pursue Kyrie Irving via trade. It could be difficult.

Houston’s GM identified what he views as his “young core.” All are 25 years old or younger and signed through at least the 2022-23 season.

“Love the city,” former Rockets center Christian Wood says regarding his new NBA home of Dallas. “It’s a little bit calmer than Houston, thank God.”

“They’ve privately made it clear that they would require a monstrous return of players, draft picks and pick swaps,” ESPN reports.

“There’s real internal confidence that he could be a comeback player of the year type in 2020-21,” writes Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Fresh off a successful stint in the NBA G League, Porter will make his Houston debut on Thursday as the backup point guard to John Wall.

With the No. 4 jersey now available in Houston, prized Rockets rookie Jalen Green will no longer wear No. 0 after his rookie season.

“The way he slowed down his game and his pace, you can see that it is opening things up for him more,” DJ Augustin says of Kevin Porter Jr.’s growth as a point guard. #Rockets

There’s a “great deal of interest” from other NBA teams in trading for Eric Gordon, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Westbrook didn’t appear to deny the alleged trade request to Houston, but he called reports involving Harden “completely fabricated.”

Recent #Rockets assistants John Lucas and Mahmoud Abdelfettah, along with Boston’s Ben Sullivan, are reportedly options for Ime Udoka’s new staff in Houston.