The Houston Rockets have completed the trade of James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team exchange involving the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.
The superstar had attempted to force his way out of Houston in past weeks and had recently named Brooklyn as one of his favoured destinations along with Miami, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
In return for Harden, the Rockets gain Caris LeVert, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs and four future first-round picks. They have since traded LeVert to the Pacers in exchange for Victor Oladipo.
The Cavaliers received Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. They also sent a 2024 second round pick to Brooklyn.
Wednesday’s trade comes just hours after Houston’s summer signing DeMarcus Cousins took aim at Harden and criticised his attitude, saying: ‘The disrespect started way before any interview. Just the approach to training camp. Showing up the way he did. The antics off the court. The disrespect started way before. This isn’t something that just all of a sudden happened last night.’
The comments were made in response to the previous night, when before exiting his press conference, Harden claimed: ‘We’re just not good enough… I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed.’
Harden had been at the front of further controversy recently when he was condemned for being pictured at a club during a pandemic, which had been interpreted as a method of forcing Houston to let him walk. He had also reportedly been told not to attend team practice earlier in the week.
With the Rockets sitting with a 3-6 record and 14th in the Western Conference, the 2018 MVP will now head to New York – where the Nets have begun the season with a 7-6 record. He will reunite with former Oklahoma City Thunder team-mate Kevin Durant and also link up with Kyrie Irving.
However, while this trade seems to turn the Nets from contenders to clear favourites for this year’s NBA title there are many around the league that doubt their season can be smooth sailing as the three iso-shooters – two of them being notorious locker room issues – prepare to take the court at once.
Despite Durant calling for the trade in the off-season and expressing his excitement at the opportunity to reunite with his former Thunder team-mate, chemistry issues may not be over for Harden thanks to Irving. The point guards has caused a stir in Brooklyn in recent weeks, having missed four games and engaged in little communication with the Nets organisation as to why – simply citing personal issues.
If they can put their ball hogging tendencies and differences aside, the Nets could be on their way to challenging the likes of LeBron James’ Lakers for an NBA championship.
Questions have also been raised over the Nets squad depth – a major issue in the coming weeks as Irving continues to miss games and there is uncertainty as to when Harden will be available.
LeVert had proven to be a solid player last season and this year is averaging 18.5 points per game after 13 games – making him a big loss for Brooklyn. After the trade, the Nets are now required to sign three players in order to fill their roster.
By Kit McIntosh
