Well, with all seemingly quiet on the Harden front, Brian Lewis of the New York Post appeared on NBA TV to provide some clarity on the situation. To avoid spoiling the video, let’s just say that fans who are behind a trade for the former MVP will find themselves disappointed. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that they (the Nets) have moved on from the idea of adding Harden, and it’s not dead in the water,” said Lewis. “It’s more floating. In other words, Houston — from what I understand — is not in a rush to move him. I think they accept the fact that’s what going to end up happening. . . They would love to bring as many teams to the table as they can to get the best deal.”
More on James Harden to Nets?
CJ Mc McCollum: “I like LeVert. I like Dinwiddie, I like Jarett Allen. I like the picks. But for Houston, you went all in on James, you brought in James, like his preferred players." Don't you have to ask for Kyrie in return? CJ McCollum: “Yeah, for Kyrie I would do it.”
Hardwood Paroxysm: Corrected: Nets are currently favored to start the season with Harden at @PointsBetUSA. You can get Rockets at plus money.
Brian Lewis: Brooklyn GM Sean Marks doesn't address James Harden rumors on @YESNetwork: "It's a crazy business we live in. Things are thrown your way all the time. You have to be flexible and pivot." #Nets #Rockets #NBA
While there are reports circulating that the Nets and Rockets have reached a verbal agreement, sources have denied that is the case. Though most scenarios have the Nets parting with combinations of Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and multiple first-round picks, they obviously don’t want to give up the farm.
Another question to consider: How much support among the Nets is there for a Harden trade? As SNY reported on Sunday, people around Harden contacted some Nets about a Harden-to-Brooklyn trade recently. There was support for the idea among the Nets contacted, but the support wasn’t universal, SNY sources say.
There are obvious ties to both Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Harden loved the years he spent with Durant and the Thunder early on in his career, constantly being called the glue that held the team together, according to a source close to Harden. During the Rockets’ 2018 trip to the Bahamas prior to training camp, Harden would watch hours of old Thunder games in his room. The presence of D’Antoni on the Nets’ staff as Steve Nash’s top assistant, along with the abilities of Kyrie Irving to take some of the ballhandling and scoring load off of Harden, would be an added bonus.
The Brooklyn Nets are prepared to go all-in for James Harden of the Rockets. Well, as long as they don’t have to give up one of their current stars. The Nets are throwing the proverbial “kitchen sink” in an effort to acquire the Houston Rockets superstar, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. “The Brooklyn deal, it’s good.” O’Connor said on The Ringer NBA Show. “If you get all of those picks — and I’ve heard they are throwing the kitchen sink at Houston for James Harden — and [Caris LeVert], and [Spencer] Dinwiddie, that’s a really strong offer for a player who wants to leave.”
“It’s not a long shot,” O’Connor said about Harden being on the Rockets next season. “What’s the incentive to make a deal now? They could wait…and potentially have more opportunities to trade him for more than what Brooklyn can offer. Brooklyn can offer all of their future first round picks, all of their future pick swaps, Caris LeVert, Jarret Allen, and that’s it.” “For the Rockets, is this the deal you want to make now?…You don’t just trade guys like that for offers that aren’t no-brainers, and Brooklyn right now isn’t offering a no-brainer…It’s just not there yet.”
The idea is for the Nets to create a super team around Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Harden, the team believing they have a three-year window with the superstars and they’re all in while at the table. One league source close to the situation said, “They [Brooklyn] not only want to win, they want to ‘dominate.’”
While no details have emerged on what the Nets would give up, league sources believe the team would have to package “the house” – which would revolve around up-and-coming star Caris LeVert plus the likelihood of players like Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Nicolas Claxton. League sources also added that Brooklyn will have to surrender an array of first-round picks in the coming years for any of this to come to fruition.
The downside of being a valuable player is becoming a valuable trade chip, with the young center aware his name is being linked in trade rumors for James Harden. “At the end of the day I’m still going to be playing basketball. Whenever I go into the gym, and whatever happens, I’m there, I’m present,” said Allen, 22. “I’m ready to play for the Nets, I’m ready to learn from everybody there and just go about my stuff and just stay grounded as much as I can.”
SiriusXM NBA Radio: "If you look at Kyrie... Harden if this happens, and then Kevin Durant, it's going to be extremely difficult" Hall of Famer Ray Allen tells @TheFrankIsola & @Scalabrine that if James Harden were to end up in Brooklyn he doesn't think it will work with Kyrie Irving & Kevin Durant
After turning down the chance to become the first $50 million a year player in league history, Houston Rockets guard All-NBA guard James Harden has made it clear to ownership that he's singularly focused on a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. As Harden's conversations with the Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ramped up in recent weeks on the West Coast, sources say the Rockets made a pitch for him to sign the maximum allowable extension -- two years and $103 million on top of the remaining three years, $133 million on his current deal.
So far, Harden's determination to get to Brooklyn has resulted in no progress toward that end. Houston and Brooklyn have been in contact, but so far have engaged in no meaningful dialogue, sources said. The Rockets want a massive return of assets for Harden, and are willing to be patient to find that in the marketplace. So far, there's no indication that the Rockets believe the Nets could deliver a package that fits that profile.
Harden believes his window to chase championships in Houston has ended, and constructing a super team with the Nets represents his best pathway to a title, sources said. Harden can become a free agent in 2022 if he opts out of the final year of his contract -- and sources say that Brooklyn represents a two-year play to win a title before deciding on the next steps in his career.
Mark Berman: NBA sources confirm multiple reports that James Harden (@James Harden) does want to be traded, but only to the @Brooklyn Nets where he would be reunited with Kevin Durant (@Kevin Durant).
In an interview Monday afternoon with his ESPN colleague Ashley Brewer, Adrian Wojnarowski said James Harden remains set on joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, but he suggested Houston may not be ready to deal him right now. Instead, he raised the possibility that the Rockets may wait in hopes they can “create a market” for Harden.
“Because Harden is still under contract to Houston, there’s not a great deal of leverage to force your way out, but his focus is getting to the Brooklyn Nets,” Woj said, noting that he and KD have spoken. “He’s spent recent weeks out in L.A. working out with Kevin Durant, with Kyrie Irving. That’s his intention now. For Houston, if they’re going to trade James Harden, they have made it clear to Brooklyn and around the league that they want a massive haul back. That means young players, that means draft picks. that means salary cap relief.”
As a result, Woj said the Rockets have options. “They can start the season with Harden on their roster and play this out and try to build a market for him, but right now, James Harden, in James Harden’s mind, he wants a way to Brooklyn.”
Brian Lewis: Jarrett Allen’s name is right in the middle of the trade rumors for James Harden. But the #Nets center – speaking from the Meals + Math Thanksgiving event – said he’s staying focused on the task at hand: Winning an #NBA championship in Brooklyn.
Brian Lewis: Jarrett Allen: “At the end of the day I’m still going to be playing basketball. Whenever I go into the gym, whatever happens, I’m there, I’m present, I’m ready to play for the #Nets. I’m ready to learn from everybody there & go about my stuff & just say grounded as much as I can”
Shams Charania: Rockets star James Harden wants to be on a contender elsewhere, and Brooklyn and Philadelphia are believed to be his top desired trade destinations, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. Houston is fully comfortable keeping Harden and Russell Westbrook into the season.
“If you look at Kyrie… Harden if this happens, and then Kevin Durant, it’s going to be extremely difficult for them to get along together,” Allen said in an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Personality-wise they might be great, but then on the court it could cause trouble or problems, which ultimately could affect their relationship if they don’t decide that they want to win, and scoring and having the ball in their hands does not matter to them.”
“There’s a responsibility that comes with playing the game now and you’re hoping to win a championship,” Allen said. “It’s going to take, specifically Harden, because now you got Kyrie who’s primarily a ball handler, both of them to figure how do we share the responsibility and how do we operate as a team? If they’re willing to do that, it could be amazing what they accomplish. But if not, it could be a train wreck.”
Nets Daily: ESPN updated its story on @James Harden and Nets: "The idea of playing together again came up during Harden and Durant's offseason workouts together in LA. Sources said the players talked openly about whether the combination could work and how a trade facilitating it could work."
The idea of joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn is resonating with Harden, sources said. Durant and Harden -- past teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder -- have recently discussed the possibility, but there have yet to be trade discussions between the two front offices.
Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone has consistently been telling teams that the Rockets plan to "run it back" with Harden this season, sources said. The Rockets have seemed inclined to listen to offers on Harden, sources said, although that's customary for most teams about most players in the league. If the Rockets did decide to engage in trade talks on Harden, they've privately made it clear that they would require a monstrous return of players, draft picks and pick swaps.
One possible destination Harden could land is in Brooklyn with the Nets, but according to SNY sources, the support for such a trade wasn't universal. People around Harden contacted some Nets players to discuss the possibility of the perennial All-Star joining the team, per SNY sources. Some were supportive, but not all players contacted about a potential Harden-to-Brooklyn deal were in favor of it, sources said.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources with @RamonaShelburne and @Zach Lowe: As Houston’s James Harden considers his future with franchise, one possible trade destination is rising to top of his list: Brooklyn. The idea of reuniting with Kevin Durant and joining Kyrie Irving is resonating with Harden.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Sources: The Rockets continue to tell teams that they plan “run it back” with Harden this season. So far, there have been no trade discussions between the Rockets and Nets.
Farbod Esnaashari: A source is telling me that the Nets have engaged in talks with the Rockets. James Harden for a variation of: Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince, and Jarrett Allen. Nothing finalized, but Harden to Nets seems like real possibility. If finalized, announced on Nov 22.
