Harden to the Nets

I don’t like Caris LeVert joining the Pacers.  That’s a solid roster.  

Houston adding Oladipo is a pure salary dump.  His contract expires after this year and I doubt the Rockers extend him.

It’s clear to me that Houston is heading down a path of tear down and rebuild.   Wall will probably be the next guy to go as there’s no reason to keep him.  That’s a 25-30 win team with him.  Might as well trade him for picks and cap relief.  

As for the Nets, this will be a fascinating study in team chemistry.   And team defense.  They might score 140 a game but could give up 150 a game.  

Latest Update:

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

@Tschmack posted:

I don’t like Caris LeVert joining the Pacers.  That’s a solid roster.  

Houston adding Oladipo is a pure salary dump.  His contract expires after this year and I doubt the Rockers extend him.

It’s clear to me that Houston is heading down a path of tear down and rebuild.   Wall will probably be the next guy to go as there’s no reason to keep him.  That’s a 25-30 win team with him.  Might as well trade him for picks and cap relief.  

As for the Nets, this will be a fascinating study in team chemistry.   And team defense.  They might score 140 a game but could give up 150 a game.  

I agree on the Pacers. They now have a run protector next to Sabonis and they’re going to be pretty damn tough adding Lavert. That’s a dangerous team if they stay healthy.

EDIT- read that wrong. Thought the Pacers got Allen. They aren’t much better after the TJ Warren injury.

Wall and his contract ain’t going anywhere until he proves he can play.

The Nets will be interesting... they lack interior size and defense.

First it was Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green.

Now, it's Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant.

LeBron has his work cut out for him once again. pic.twitter.com/pg4vcOns3c

— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) January 13, 2021

34 year old Jeff Green trying to anchor Brooklyn’s defence at the 5 pic.twitter.com/poONP8jI72

— . (@feeling3000) January 13, 2021

Giannis when he sees Jeff Green in the paint pic.twitter.com/ydSwMwTgCZ

— Gia❄️ (@GiannisSZNMVP) January 14, 2021

@Boris posted:

First it was Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green.

Now, it's Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant.

LeBron has his work cut out for him once again. pic.twitter.com/pg4vcOns3c

— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) January 13, 2021

Klay might be the best perimeter offensive player in history who doesn't need to handle the ball. Green is great off the ball and isn't ever looking to shoot. Curry is a great shooter handling the ball or coming off screens.

Durant, Irving, and Harden are 3 of the most ball-dominant scorers in NBA history. Klay famously once scored 60 points in a game that he dribbled 11 times.

https://www.sportscasting.com/...ints-on-11-dribbles/

Harden exceeds 11 dribbles on most of his possessions.

There is also the fact that Klay and Green are elite defenders.

The Nets may never see their big 3 play together.

https://nesn.com/2021/01/nba-r...s-current-situation/

Oh does that just shock the hell out of me... 😂😂😂😂

My understanding is they petitioned the league to be able to use 3 balls on offense so they all can get their touches.

Maybe I'll eat my words in a few months, but I think this trade really weakens the Nets. Besides removing any chance of getting a top pick in the lottery for 8 years (all the picks and pick swaps are unprotected), they gave away an elite rim protector and a very good borderline all-star guard. Games are not NBA2K video games, you actually have to put effort into defense and figure out an offense. The best offense for the Nets would still be to run everything to Durant. Is Harden going to end up satisfied getting a third of the usage he's had in the past?  THere is obviously no way he's going to be featured in isos like he was in Houston. If the Nets just become a juggernaut immediately, this will all be a minor issue. However, if they struggle at all it's not like Irving, Harden, or Durant are used to working through tough situations in their careers. The odds of at least one of them demanding a trade in the next year are probably higher than a Finals appearance.

I would argue that the bigger thing for the Bucks will be how Ben Simmons and the Sixers respond to this. Simmons was reported to be really disinteresed in the last few Sixers games because he was shaken up about being traded. If he settles in and gets energized by the stability of staying in Philly, the Sixers become that much more dangerous. If he is still irritated about being on the trading block for the last month and can't get over it, I think we could be looking at a Simmons/Beal trade in a couple of months.

Beal is the next domino. Does he end up in Miami or Philly now?

I’ve said this before the season, but I think the Sixers pose a real threat to Milwaukee in the East.  They’ve had a talented roster for a while now, but they added a legit head coach and a legit GM that adds credibility and stability to that program.  

I’m not all that concerned about the Nets.  Even with Harden.  Surely, they will put on an offensive display but against tough, disciplined, physical teams they do not match up well at all.   Who is going to play defense?  And how will they distribute the ball and shots?

Coming into the season, one of the most promising aspects of the NJN was their quality bench play and depth - arguably the best in the East.  LaVert is really good offensive player and Jarrett Allen is a decent interior defender and rebounder.  And both are younger guys that have been improving.   Prince isn’t in the same category but is still OK.  

Ultimately, I don’t see it working much like the Clippers last year.  Too many egos and selfish players and once they faced adversity their chemistry tore the team apart.  Kyrie is up to his old tricks already and Harden hasn’t even arrived in NJ yet.  Good luck with that Nets.

If I am Golden State, Draymond Green’s intangibles are not worth the bullshit that comes with him. So I look to make a deal- and I call Washington and Philly.

3-way deal:

Add a few picks for Washington and it’s doable.

Philly gets an All Star backcourt and the “intangibles” guy Doc Rivers can use to motivate Embiid. Win now move.

Washington gets expiring contract savings, picks, and a tradeable asset in full tank mode.

Golden State gets an elite defender/passer and with Thompson coming off 2 lost seasons, someone to take on primary wing defender mode. With Wiseman coming on, they have their next-gen lineup already starting to form.

Houston and Washington are screwed.  They are both in NBA no mans land.  Good enough to maybe compete for a playoff spot but not bad enough to get rewarded in the lottery.

They are also stuck with a player each (Wall and Westbrook) that are owed close to 100MM remaining on their deals and are virtually untradeable.  

The good news for Houston is they can clear Oladipo’s 21MM from the books after this year.  They also clear Exum and Tucker  after this year for another 17MM.   If the Rockets got creative they could deal either Christian Wood or Eric Gordon for more expiring contract dollars and/or picks.   So the Rockets aren’t that far from a total rebuild.  

Washington isn’t as fortunate but Bradley Beal has trade value.  The Davis Bertans contract is awful and Westbrook can’t help you win.   Still, you could flip Beal for assets and/or expiring contracts.  The issue for Beal is the 2 guard spot is heavily occupied across the league with some highly paid guys already.   One trade that would work is Beal for Kyrie straight up.

I think Eric Gordon is severely underrated...

Most of the talking heads quickly leaped to calling the Nets the team to beat in the East after the trade. Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it.

I like Eric Gordon as well but he’s had some injury issues over the years.  Still, I think Houston could get something for him as he’s decent when not dinged up.

If Kyrie Irving wasn’t such a flake and weirdo I’d put a lot more faith in that team.  He’s sketchy enough that he could just up and quit or force another trade.  

“KD went from The Splash Brothers to The Dribble Brothers.”

- Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/LXYde5H40e

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 15, 2021

As a former team exec the Harden situation is scary. No matter the contract, if an A-list superstar is unhappy, there are no good options. Teams like Bucks and Sixers have to pray every night that Giannis or Embiid don't wake up one morning and want to leave. It's so fragile.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 15, 2021

And to expound on that commentary from Brandt, these players have agents and other players in their ears whispering sweet nothings. The team can do everything the players asked for/demanded (see Harden, LeBron) and still decide they want to leave, regardless of the contract.

The idea of the max deal was to ensure top players get paid like it, and to ensure the talent pool is distributed. But with the advent of the “player empowerment era” players started treating the teams like social clubs, aligning with their friends to create “Super Teams” that destroyed the NBA’s business model. The league became unbalanced as players who were supposed to resurrect moribund franchises just ended up in LA/NY/MIA anyway.

Giannis was never built like that.

If you have Giannis as your foundation

1. Would you trade Khris Middleton for Kyrie Irving? I would say never.

2. After seeing the first 12 games of the year, would you trade Jrue Holiday for Harden? Not if you care about defense and ability to play off the ball.

3. Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan are going to play roughly similar minutes for the Bucks and the Nets, respectively. Lopez shooting splits right now are 42/36/91 and he shoots 66% of his shots from the 3 point line. DeAndre Jordan shoots 79% overall but 93% of his shots are within 3 feet, he's made 1 3 pointer in his career, and he shoots 50% from the line. Lopez was All-NBA defensive 2nd team last year, Jordan is a shell of himself there. Advantage Lopez.

4. DDV or Joe Harris? Maybe Joe Harris is better, but I'd rather have DDV for defense.

If the Nets win, it's going to be because of Durant.

Apparently, the Nets only got 80-90% of Harden.

How did the dude drop 15 pounds on the flight to New York? https://t.co/LhYLoXhNfe

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) January 16, 2021

Harden looked like the Harden of old against Orlando.  He’s a diva and a headache but he might be the best pure scorer in the modern era.  He’s like Dennis Rodman on steroids if Rodman scored as well as he rebounded.  Goes out and parties and on game day drops 35 on you.

Still, I’m glad the Bucks stayed put.  Holiday has been a godsend and Middleton has taken his game to another level.   I fully expect them to continue to improve and be a real problem for teams come playoff time.

Rumor has it that there were serious trade talks with Philly and Harden but Houston went with Oladipo and the picks.

@Tschmack posted:

Harden looked like the Harden of old against Orlando.  He’s a diva and a headache but he might be the best pure scorer in the modern era.  He’s like Dennis Rodman on steroids if Rodman scored as well as he rebounded.  Goes out and parties and on game day drops 35 on you.

Still, I’m glad the Bucks stayed put.  Holiday has been a godsend and Middleton has taken his game to another level.   I fully expect them to continue to improve and be a real problem for teams come playoff time.

Rumor has it that there were serious trade talks with Philly and Harden but Houston went with Oladipo and the picks.

I think the Nets should just complete the process of reassembling the old OKC team that made the Finals by flipping Kyrie for Westbrook.

Kyrie is a dipshit.  Westbrook has his faults but at least he competes like a mother.  I like your thinking.  Get Adams and Ibaka and complete the transition.

I probably shared this already but in 2015-2016 I had a fair amount of bidness in OKC.  They were my team away from MKE.