The Nets Should Not Give Up Everything For James Harden
By Liam McKeone
The James Harden situation in Houston is quickly coming to a breaking point as the malcontent superstar said in no uncertain terms that nothing can be fixed with the Rockets last night. It does not appear Harden is going to quietly go about his business while the team works to trade him for an acceptable package. Something's gotta give.
Thus, rumors have begun to circulate once again about the Brooklyn Nets' interest in Harden. The latest report comes from Nick Wright, who says that the Nets are still very interested in the former MVP and will give up anyone not named Kevin Durant to acquire his services.
News: There has been legitimate movement on the Harden front.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 13, 2021
Brooklyn is prepared to offer *anyone* that Houston wants aside from Durant for Harden, as well as 3 1sts & swaps.
BK willing to make the same bet it once made on KG & Pierce, but on Harden.
If Houston demanded Kyrie, they could have him, but the belief is Houston isn’t interested in Kyrie. BK trying to get a 3rd team involved to potentially enhance Houston’s return. Would have a Big 3 of KD, Harden & Kyrie but very little else, no depth & no future picks.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 13, 2021
Question for Joe Tsai is is he willing to make a similar bet Prokhorov made shortly after he bought the team: Mortgaging all future assets & future abilities to improve the team for a chance to win the title right now, especially when the Harden-Kyrie fit is questionable at best.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 13, 2021
Brooklyn is currently dealing with the issues of their own mercurial superstar in Kyrie Irving, who has dropped off the grid entirely and hasn't played a game in over a week. That's why Houston has no interest in a Harden-for-Kyrie swap. They aren't going to trade one player who doesn't want to be in a Rockets uniform and isn't afraid to act like it for another.
But the Nets should not be jumping at the opportunity to give up a Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett-type haul for Harden, as Wright suggests they are. Harden is certainly much better than either of those two players were when Brooklyn acquired them for three unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. The likelihood of Brooklyn bottoming out so completely (like they did after the Pierce/Garnett trade) and those picks ending up in the lottery is much lower. Regardless of what happens with Kyrie, the Nets would be very good for the next two years at least, and perhaps longer.
But it's still a massive risk to take. Just because Harden and Durant played together early in the last decade does not mean they will work together as teammates now that they're fully-realized NBA players. We saw that whole scene acted out in Houston last season. Harden is not helping matters with the way he's trying to force a trade from Houston. What happens if he does end up in Brooklyn and decides he doesn't like it here, either? Does Brooklyn really want to deal with that along with whatever Kyrie will be up to after giving up all their assets?
One could consider that bet worth making if the outcome is a championship. A trio of Harden, Durant, and Irving is certainly a ring-winning combination. If all goes well. Given everything that has transpired over the last week, that is a massive if. And Brooklyn shouldn't mortgage their future again for an if.