The Rockets traded former MVP James Harden to the Nets on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. Multiple reports suggest the Rockets will receive Brooklyn’s unprotected first-round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026 in the deal. Houston also has the right to swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. The Rockets have also acquired Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Cavaliers guard Dante Exum and Nets forward Rodions Kurucs. The Pacers are receiving guard Caris LeVert and a second-round pick from the Nets in this blockbuster trade. Brooklyn center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince will head to Cleveland. Brooklyn is also receiving a 2024 second-round pick from the Cavaliers.
Now that you know all the details that have to do with this massive trade let’s discuss what this means for the NBA. Everyone is freaking out about the Nets, unless you’ve forgotten Kyrie Irving hates their head coach and no one knows where he is. He probably doesn’t even know the trade happened. When he does decide to return to the hardwood, if my memory is correct, they still only play with one basketball. It will be hard for ball hungry Kevin Durrant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden to share one ball. The 76ers were about to pull the trigger for James Harden for Ben Simmions and some other assets. The question begs, how will Simmions respond to his name being out on the trade block? It normally does not go well for young stars. Who won this trade? The team that didn’t make a move won this trade, the Boston Celtics. Boston would’ve had to give up some young talent plus either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart. Phew dodged a bullet for a shooting guard who is out of basketball shape, a problem in every locker room he’s been a part of, and would rather hit the “adult ballerina clubs” than practice. As a Celtics fan I cannot wait to watch the Nets burn to the ground and finish in the 6th-9th seed in the east.
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