Less than 24 hours after LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers blew out James Harden and the Houston Rockets at home, Harden has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets, seemingly forming a new potential contender to compete with the Lakers for the 2021 NBA championship. In what was eventually a four-team deal, the Rockets received the rights to Nets draft picks for the next eight seasons, receiving four first-round picks and four pick swaps.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne broke the news of Harden going to the Nets, joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, in the formation of a Big Three to combat the Lakers dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that the Rockets had also shown interest in a package involving Ben Simmons and Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, but clearly, the Sixers could not match the draft capital the Nets were willing to give up to form a mighty offensive triumvirate, provided Iriving returns to the team from his current sabbatical.
Also as part of the deal, disgruntled Pacers star Victor Oladipo went to Houston in exchange for Caris LeVert and the Rockets also sent Nets center Jarrett Allen to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sources: Full current trade:
Rockets: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, 3 BKN first-rounders (22, 24, 26), 1 MIL first (22, unprotected), 4 BKN 1st round swaps (21, 23, 25, 27)
Nets: James Harden
Pacers: Caris LeVert, 2nd-rounder
Cavs: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2021
While it is a massive trade, there is a chance the deal is not done with potential additions, but the biggest move of all has already been completed with Harden going to Brooklyn to reunite with Durant after starting their careers together in Oklahoma City and forming a duo that by themselves could compete with the Lakers. If Kyrie joins them and they solidify their defense, they could truly be a threat.
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