In his latest look at the James Harden situation, Brian Windhorst of ESPN lists the Sixers, Nets, Heat, Celtics, and Raptors among the teams that have at least placed “courtesy calls” to the Rockets about the former MVP.
And while the Bucks reportedly don’t have interest in pursuing Harden, they did have an internal conversation about the possibility and ran it by Giannis Antetokounmpo before coming to that decision, Windhorst notes.
The Harden trade talk that dominated NBA headlines during the preseason has died down to some extent now that the season is underway and the 31-year-old is suiting up for the Rockets, but Windhorst believes it’s just a matter of time before a team convinces itself that Harden is the missing piece for a championship and pulls the trigger on a deal, like Toronto did for Kawhi Leonard in 2018.
Here’s more on Harden:
- Although the Nuggets have been linked to Harden directly, they’re also interested in potentially getting involved in a multi-team trade involving the star guard even if they don’t end up with him, according to Windhorst.
- Sam Amick of The Athletic wonders if the loss of scoring depth caused by Spencer Dinwiddie‘s ACL injury may motivate the Nets to push harder to acquire Harden. Of course, as we discussed earlier this week, Dinwiddie’s injury also diminishes the value of a player who likely would be part of any package the Nets offer.
- Within that same Athletic article, Amick examines where things stand for the other teams linked to Harden, writing that the Sixers remain content to continue evaluating their current roster under Doc Rivers before making any major changes, while the Bucks don’t view Harden as a fit for their culture. Amick also evaluates the Heat, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, and Raptors, but doesn’t suggest that there’s traction on any front.
See what Jaylen Brown did last night? That’s the reason the Celtics want nothing to do with Harden.
Bbbbbrrrrooooookkkkkllllyyyyyyynnnn
Not going to Brooklyn. Dinwiddie was a major part of that potential deal
Hell yeah bro
I predict James Harden will traded before the trade deadline. The longer Houston wait to trade him the worst their season is becoming.
According to nba central today
Heat would deal both Herro and Duncan Robinson in the package for Harden
That’s what’s Houston wants and much more. But the Heat are not willing to offer them both.
And did you watch harden drop 44 and 17 assists first game of the season with wood and scrubs.
Harden >>>>> brown and you’re a fool if you think it’s even close.
Now subtract out the contract and the team-destructive activities. I’ll wait off line for my answer.
To be fair though, Harden is a ball dominant gaurd with an offense specifically tailored to his skills. Brown is a cog in an offense that is skewed more towards ball movement and equal opportunity. That and he’s also playing second fiddle to Tatum. Oh wait, there’s just one more thing. Defense. Harden scores 44 while giving up 30+ with his matador defense. Brown generally guards 1 through 4 and takes on the other team’s best perimeter player more often than not. Harden is better overall, but he’s also 7 yrs older and really not all that much better if you factor everything in. All of that doesn’t even consider the contract disparities and culture. Brown’s a leader and team guy, Harden is, well, something else.
The sixers don’t need Harden. They would be wiser to go after Beal
Either trade is a 2 yr deal, Beal is younger so if you can extend him it keeps your core in their prime longer. And will have tons of experience playing next to guards that cant shoot (Wall, Westbrick). Find someone that wants Harris.
Wise …. definitely.
Great player/scorer! Not a winner!
Any team with serious title prospects like Bucks or Nets should stay away!
If by title you mean best NBA team in Milwaukee then yeah Bucks looking good so far!
lol
How can any team give up a ransom in assets for Harden when they could end up with him doing the exact same thing he’s doing to the Rockets right now?
I’m a Celtics fan and seeing the Kyrie media nonsense was extremely frustrating. It’s a team game. The best shot is the open shot and defense is a thing. The only things you can control are effort and attitude and honestly I don’t like either of Harden’s. Super talented but there’s a reason he hasn’t won a championship. For those reasons, I’m out.
Who needs a guy that’s scoring 39 PPG, right?
A guy who chokes in big games. He will be the poster boy for scoring champ without a ring.
Sounds more like Curry in 2021 lol
curry has 3 championships. How many does your love Harden has?? 0. Curry will not be the scoring champ in 2021 he doesn’t play for only stats like Harden.
It doesn’t matter how many points you score a night. Isolation ball has no place in the playoffs. It doesn’t work. You can’t win a championship that way. Throw in the fact that Harden plays ZERO defense and his immense entitled persona, it’s a recipe for disaster.
When you have the ball in your hands every possession and no one else is allowed to create a shot, and your team’s losing, it’s not that hard to score points.
What a ball hog! That can’t lead his team to WIN!
I agree in theory but Harden is at least a notch above if not three above Kyrie.
The Rockets were as much contenders as Cleveland during the Durant Warriors years.
The question for Boston is really IF you traded Brown for Harden, do you have enough around Tatum and Harden to seriously contend? And if so for how long?
The second question may be more of an unknown than the first
To quote the crowd, “o-ver-ra-ted”
Two conference finals in the 2000s
Harden older now, lacks Morey
Hoophabit suggested that Celtics offer
Brown
Smart
Langford
2021 First
2023 First
2025 First
Unbeatable offer
Those picks aren’t worth much now but if they get Harden with them they would end up being lottery picks.
Ben Simmons. Just like that I beat your offer
You think the Celtics…or anyone…would trade Brown, Smart, Langford, and three firsts for Ben Simmons?
I would, as much as I like Brown, Simmons is better defensively and definitely better playmaker on offense
Philly would do that trade in a heartbeat. Boston never would in a million years. Not with three firsts attached. That is way overvaluing Simmons IMO.
Nope… you value JB way too much!
x_burner_X’s proposal is actually right, BOS would win a ring for sure!
X didn’t make a Celtics trade proposal. And I wasn’t talking about that was “right” I was saying the Celtics would never trade Brown, Smart, Langford and three firsts for Simmons.
And they won’t
Curtisrowe, i agree boston doesn’t want simmons that bad. and i doubt that want harden for that amount either.
Pure insanity. If Danny Ainge even considered that I’d fire him on the spot.
talk about going out in blaze of glory ! ha ha
All nonsense aside: a team with Tatum and Harden and Kemba is a contender for this season and next season by any metric you measure “NBA Contender”.
Maybe you value Brown as a guy who can be a legit All NBA player for longer (even though that most kikely doesnt overlap w/ KW) and think you have a better shot keeping him in the long term.
But ultimately this is something Chess Master Danny has to AT LEAST consider.
You probably try to deal Kemba in a Harden trade.
Defense actually matters. Brown is probably a more valuable asset at the moment than Harden, straight up. The difference on the court isn’t as big as you think, and Brown makes way less, is much younger, plays defense, and doesn’t destroy every team he’s on.
Nuggets are interested in helping other teams to get Harden by offering Porter Harris and Barton
They hope they can end up with Beal
Wouldn’t that suggest the Wizards get Harden? Why on Earth would they do that, so they can pair up Harden and Westbrook again?
One trade proposal was
Rockets get Simmons, Porter Jr and 76ers picks
76ers get Harden
Waiting to satisfy Nuggets
Sixers have zilch to interest the Nuggets, except maybe Simmons.
Nuggets need to say not no to Harden, but HELL NO, he is a cancer and would destroy team.
There’s a reason the Rockets haven’t won squat in the last 8 years. There’s also a reason every superstar the Rockets have acquired to play alongside Harden has forced their way out of Houston. There’s also a reason No superstar has tried to sign in Houston. And those three reasons are all the same – James Harden. It doesn’t matter how many points you score when: you don’t play defense; you isolate your teammates (literally and figuratively); and you put yourself above the team.
Draymond would be a defensive teacher for Harden
35th pick Green is now a defensive teacher for 1st overall pick Wiggins and 2nd overall pick Wiseman
“The Bucks don’t view Harden as a fit for their culture.”
He will be interesting wherever he plays, but that quote is the huge red flag with him. For any team. I’m curious what happens next.
Knicks will take Dinwiddie… no problem lol. He’s just what we need. You can have our pick or Dallas pick. Whichever team is lower plus Smith. Smith will play much better in smaller market.
#FreeTheBeard
Harden will not play good around Kd and Kyrie
James Harden is consistently between 70th and 100th in the league in 3 point shooting percentage. His scoring is a result of leading the league in attempts.
Just like Jordan… so your point is?
Nuggets wanting to get “involved” in a Harden trade is interesting. For what purpose? They need to upgrade their team defensively, getting some length on the perimeter. Grant was not a star, but he covered up a lot of flaws. Trading MPJ is a last resort. But (with Jokic and Murray off the table) I don’t see who or what else would make the Nuggets a facilitator of Harden deal.
MPJ is whom the Rockets seem to want. Package him with Barton or Harris, and bring in a $20m or so wing who can play on both sides of the court. Dunno who that is, but he’s gotta be out there. I thought about Siakam but I think he’s too expensive.
If the Raptors do a trade for Harden, will have to wait until guys become available for trade. Feb 5th.
OG, Powell, McCaw, and Baynes are the premise for this trade. Could work, defense and depth be damned.
Nets trade still probably better… LeVert, DinWiddie, Allen, un protected 1st to Houston; Prince and a protected 1st to OKC (If Houston balks at Prince). Swap Allen/Shamet if you want too. Probably doesnt hurt them a lot bc they’ll recoup depth via buyout market.
Sixers should be out on Harden unless it’s for Harris. They should be looking at dudes under 30.4M using Green, Scott, Ferguson, Bradley and Poirers contracts + picks. DeRozan, Bojan, Ingles, Bjelica, Jabari, Beasley, Fournier, or players alike.
Heat, Riley is too smart to give up all his cheap cost controlled assets.
Celtics shouldn’t do a trade that isnt Kemba centered.
Bucks only option would be to flip Jrue in a deal for Harden or involve a 3rd team that wanted Jrue.
Giannis wanted none of toxic Harden, hilarious.
Most fraudulent superstar since Dominique Wilkins.
Nique was a legend & sacrifice a lot for his team! SMH!
Try to watch some hoops before saying stupid things in here that makes you look pretty dumb, dude!
Just some friendly advice!