When they were exploring a possible James Harden trade before the start of the season, the Heat were open to including “a couple” of their young players and their 2025 first-round pick in a package for the star guard, says Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. However, the Rockets‘ asking price was significantly higher.
According to Jackson, even if the Heat had offered Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Precious Achiuwa, KZ Okpala, and first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 (along with Andre Iguodala and Kelly Olynyk for salary-matching purposes), it’s not clear that would have been enough to satisfy the Rockets.
The Heat reportedly pulled out of Harden discussions on December 21. Jackson writes that team president Pat Riley thinks highly of Harden, but would only be willing to make a deal for the Rockets star at “a price that’s palatable to him and the organization.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- Avery Bradley‘s defense has been as strong as advertised, and he’s also making an impact on offense in his first season with the Heat, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Bradley’s play in the early going has impressed his teammates, as well as head coach Erik Spoelstra. “Avery is a guy that can play in any system,” Spoelstra said. “As long as it’s a contending team, he fits. He’s a really good basketball player. He’s a winner. And he’s a two-way player, a legit two-way player.”
- Rookie Hornets center Nick Richards has been ruled inactive for today’s game against the Hawks due to the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s not clear how long those protocols will keep Richards out of action, but it shouldn’t have an impact on Charlotte’s rotation, as he has logged just 11 total minutes so far this season.
- The Magic have a spotty player development over the last decade, having set the franchise back years by failing to get the most out of the likes of Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, and others, according Josh Robbins of The Athletic, who examines how the team is looking to avoid repeating those failures with 2020 first-rounder Cole Anthony.
While Harden is a good enough player(in terms of skill) to get a huge package, they need to lower their asking price. Not by much, but enough to make up for the kind of me-me-me player Harden is. Plus, they need to get something for him before it is too late
Hard to believe the Heat offered all that. But If they did and the Rockets wanted more, then the Rockets GM and owner are idiots . They’re not gonna get a better deal. BUT … my suspicion is that they’re not idiots, just that they simply do not want to trade Harden at this time (and don’t have to).
How are they going to make a deal taking back 6 players and sending out just one? It doesn’t matter if all of those players (plus two picks) are worth as much as Harden since the Rockets don’t have enough room on their roster to make that trade without cutting 4 players. They’d be worse off.
Herro, Robinson, Precious, KZ, Igudola, Olynyk, and a couple of first round picks for Harden? If I’m the Rockets and I get offered that, I’d take it.
This would be a terrible trade, it’s simply a matter of quantity over quality.
What are they going to do with all of those players? They already have plenty of depth and can only carry 15 players. They’d have to get rid of 4 guys.
Even if you don’t include Harden the Rockets already have Wall, Wood, Gordon, Tucker, Cousins, House, Jae’Sean Tate, McLemore, and Nwaba.
How many of those new guys are better than what they already have? Only one or two of them are good enough to make it into the Rockets rotation.
You’re wrong. That would be a good trade for Houston: 1. Herro and Robinson are two guys Houston could build around in the future, especially Herro. Trading Harden clears up some capsize they can use to re-sign Robinson. 2. Iguodola is a playoff tested veteran and he and Olynyk give the Houston more depth. In fact, I’d take those two and Robinson coming off my bench over House, Tate, McLemore, Nwaba. You’d have to get rid of 4 players? No problem: get rid of Tate, House, McLemore, and Nwaba. 3. Both Robinson and Olynyk are better 3pt shooter than Gordon, Tate, McLemore, Nwaba, and House. 4. They’re not letting Cousins get a lot of minutes for whatever reason so they could probably put Robinson at the 3 to ensure their starting lineup still has a good 3pt shooter. 5. The only downside to this trade is that those draft picks are for 2025 and 2027. 6. If Houston was offered that trade package and they turned it down, Houston may not get a better offer from any where. Edit: accidentally upvoted my own comment.
Duncan at the 3 would actually give the starting lineup two good 3pt shooters. Whoops.
You look at the players and you think ok nice package. But KZ is nothing, Olynyk and Iggy are cap fodder. Precious looks like he belongs in a rotation. Duncan is the 2nd best asset and is an RFA next year. And the picks are probably protected. So if someone with cap space goes stupid and gives Duncan a big deal… do the Rockets match? Idk. So the deal really is just Herro picks and a role player.
Exactly, and If the plan is to move forward with Wall that takes value away from Duncan-
They can do much better
Its Herro, picks, a role player and salary relief to sign someone else once Olynyk and Iggy go off the books.
It’s too harden for Heat to get this star because of sky high asking price
#FreeTheBeard
Don’t believe it for a sec. No way Jimmy wants to play with Harden. Jimmy is from Houston. He knows exactly who Har en is. I’m so tired of hearing about this.
Anthony has actually looked descent. Has to pass more though. Magic should just shut it down. Play the young guys. Move Gordon and bet on the draft. Best yr to be in lottery lol.
verrry interesting that the Cole Anthony piece appears on the day he day he is diagnosed with a torn ACL (later HR article)… but the article opined that it was best for CA to be a backup. MCW could start. CA recently fell into a shooting slump but started promising.