As the Rockets parted ways with Daryl Morey, the idea of Houston blowing up its roster came up.
While it seems that won’t be the case, James Harden trade proposals are still popping up. The 2018 MVP has three years left on his deal, the last of which is a player option (2022-23).
No matter how you slice it, it’s hard to imagine Houston trading away the face of their franchise, especially for a package like the one Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report put together, which involves the Brooklyn Nets.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Rodions Kurucs, the No. 19 pick in this year’s draft (via the Philadelphia 76ers) and an unprotected first-round pick in 2022 would all go to Houston in the deal. In exchange, Harden makes the move to Brooklyn.
Yes, Houston gets a lot in return. But how could any team give up on an MVP-caliber player with that much time left on his contract? Especially if they aren’t receiving at least a bonafide No. 2 star in the league in the deal.
And how would Harden fit in with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant?
As much as Irving may need to play off the ball some in 2020-21, there’s no way this hypothetical situation works. “There’s only one ball” gets used a lot when discussing the idea of superteams, but it’s true here — and pretty much any other time Harden’s name is thrown around with other stars.
PHOTOS: Brooklyn Nets player salaries for 2020-21 and beyond