Three years ago after a disappointing season, Harden likely had CP3 shipped off. Since then CP3 has been to the finals and has a good shot to go again

CP3 was not playing as well during the end of his tenure with rockets. They lost to the warriors even with Durant out.

There was an incident in the playoffs where harden slapped cp3s hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Mmdqflr8g

And usually cp3 sort of gets on players nerves after a few years. You could just sense that harden wanted cp3 gone. Obviously his solution was to get westbrook who was his friend which didn't workout either.

However since that point cp3 took a undermanned thunder to the playoffs, and has gotten to the finals with the suns.

Harden has had a few 2nd round exits.