Like all master poker players, Bob Myers wasn't about to tip his hand.
Hours before the Warriors president of basketball operations spoke to the media Tuesday, a report dropped that Golden State had checked in with the Houston Rockets to gauge the availability of James Harden. When asked about his team's interest in the 2018 NBA MVP, Myers turned quiet.
"No, I'm not going to comment on everything that's written about us, true or untrue," Myers told the media. "I'm just not going to do that. I appreciate you have to ask, but if every call we made or didn't make, I had to comment ... I don't think it's productive on my side.
"I understand why you ask these questions. Very fair to ask."
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Warriors were one of a few teams to call and check in on the disgruntled Rockets star, and that they did so before Klay Thompson suffered a torn Achilles.
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Reports of Harden's discontent in Houston started to surface last month, and many believe the star shooting guard has his eyes on joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn with the Nets.
The idea that Durant is recruiting his former teammate was shot down by the former Warrior on Tuesday.
“I don’t know where you’re making these stories up, that me and James talked about any of this at a workout. I don’t know where that came from,” Durant said Tuesday prior to the beginning of Nets camp. “James is a friend of mine, but I let the front office handle all of that stuff. I was just so focused on working out.
“I heard all the noise that James potentially wanted to come to the Nets. But anyone can make up stories, anyone can write a story and it gets some traction. Nothing’s ever set in stone until it’s set in stone, so I’ve never thought too much about it, just focused on myself. And my teammates probably did the same thing, and we just move forward.”
Golden State Warriors
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From the Warriors' point of view, trying to pair Harden with Steph Curry and a healthy Thompson would have been an all-in move to try and maximize the remaining years of the championship core's prime. Pulling off a trade for Harden would cost the Warriors a hefty ransom, but it's one that was at least worth pondering prior to Thompson's injury.
For now, it appears the Rockets are more than content with opening the season with Harden on the roster and not caving to his reported demands. Houston underwent seismic changes this offseason as coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey exited and were replaced by Stephen Silas and Rafael Stone.
The thought of Harden sharing a backcourt with Curry admittedly is hard to envision. But as the Warriors try to stay light years ahead of the NBA, it's a possibility worth discussing.