Betrayed is a strong word. Plus, if you think about it the Rockets have made the play offs four out of four years with Harden on their roster. He might be a ball hog, but he's a damn talented player who has carried that Rockets team into the play offs and to victories on a regular basis throughout his career in Houston. Add him to a line up and they currently have Beverley / Harden / Ariza / Anderson. All they need to find is a defensively minded center and they will be in a good position to return to the play offs again, especially if they fill out their bench as they seem to do with good veterans.
Compare that to what he would join here and I can see why he would rather go to the Rockets, if he ever considered coming here at all. Imagine if he came here and slotted into this line up:
Rondo / Afflalo / Gay / Anderson / Cousins
Our new head coach would have to work miracles to get that line up to work defensively. Even if we slot in Collison over Rondo, again it doesn't really improve things. Our team is what it is, a flawed roster with limited upside unless Vlade nails a major game changing trade to bring a second star to pair with Cousins. If that doesn't happen, then we'd struggle to make the play offs as an eighth seed. One could argue we are behind at least the Jazz in potential teams to take Dallas' place if they miss the play offs (likely if they don't make any moves in free agency). Potentially the Timberwolves should get better under Thibs, and Denver have a talented young ascending roster capable of surprising people. So in some ways, our future as a potential play off team is fairly murky unless Joerger pulls off some miracles like he did with Memphis last year. And even then, our upside is pretty limited. Whereas Houston are not too far detached from being a top four seed and with a star like Harden, combined with a solid supporting cast, there's always the chance they could win against one of the top four. I can see the appeal from a playing stand point, and that's without considering Texas has no state income tax which should see him take more money home over the course of that deal.