“The Indiana Pacers are moving Victor Oladipo to the Rockets for package around Caris LeVert,“ he added. “Rockets are acquiring Caris LeVert in James Harden deal from Brooklyn and sending LeVert to Indiana to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo - in addition to the four first-round picks and four draft pick swaps,” Shams said. As they know from last year, NBA superstars usually get accommodated.The Houston Rockets traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, NBA insider Shams Charania announced Wednesday. Unfortunately for the Rockets, this is mostly their problem now. If he doesn’t, these problems could follow him to Brooklyn or wherever he lands. (Not reporting comes with other consequences.)īut he also ought to consider his own culpability in this mess. Though locked into his contract two more seasons, he’s within his rights to request a trade. I don’t blame Harden for wanting to win in his prime. And he has used his clout to harm Houston’s roster management. He has been central to a problematic culture that has the team coming undone amid pressure. He has numerous postseason duds individually. His offensive production ranks with the all-time greats.īut when it comes to winning at the highest levels, he has failed in multiple ways. He’s a perennial MVP candidate who singlehandedly lifts his team’s floor to the playoffs. Trading Westbrook to the Wizards, Houston had to take back Wall’s even-worse contract and got only a protected first-round pick.Īnd apparently the Rockets’ roster situation was so dire only after Harden pushed for it with the threat of a trade request! The Rockets’ biggest problem in building a championship team around Harden: They’re short on assets after surrendering so many for Westbrook, whose big contract carries negative value. Prior to Houston’s flurry of offseason moves, Harden had told Houston that he didn’t see a realistic path to a title and would prefer to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, sources say.Īpparently, Harden doesn’t believe Christian Wood, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are the answers. Harden approached management/ownership and gave them his mandate: Either build a championship team around him or get him to a situation where he could achieve that. The issue was also exacerbated by Harden refusing to embrace playing off the ball or – his load lightened – defending.īut already enabled once, Harden was more direct this offseason, reportedly requesting a trade to join Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the Nets.
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Houston traded Paul for Westbrook.Įxcept Westbrook fit even worse with Harden. Westbrook’s arrival came off the backs of Harden’s belief that Paul wasn’t a suitable partner to lead the Rockets to a title, sources say.
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Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said he pushed his reluctant basketball-operations staff to make the deal.Īlso pushing for the trade: Harden – apparently with the force of a potential trade request.Īfter the 2019 playoff collapse and fallout with Chris Paul, sources say Harden told the front office the same thing: commit to building a championship team or trade me. That summer, Houston traded Chris Paul and significant draft capital to the Thunder for Russell Westbrook. After the Rockets lost to the Warriors in the second round of the 2019 playoffs, James Harden said, “I know what we need to do.