James Hardens The trade request progresses as most superstar trade requests do. He started with a unique preferred goal: that Brooklyn networks. This team lacked the resources to immediately lure their current team, so the list was expanded. From Thursday he has Reportedly interested by doing Philadelphia 76ers, intense heat and Milwaukee Bucks. The Golden State Warriors Also reportedly made a phone callalthough nothing came off.
The next logical step is the most interesting. A mystery team is usually formed at this point in the process. Oklahoma City rushed out of left field to grab Paul George. Toronto delayed Kawhi Leonard’s Return to Los Angeles for a year. Whether such a team will actually succeed in acquiring Harden remains to be seen, but before that process is complete, it will become a significant part of these discussions. The following four teams are possible surprise candidates.
Kawhi made two decisions when deciding to join this Clippers. The first, and most basic, was to live in California instead of Toronto. The second and more complicated thing was to play with Paul George Instead of Pascal Siakam. It’s unclear which outcome was more important to Leonard, a native of Southern California, but rumors at the time suggested that Kawhi would have been open to extending his stint in Canada with the right co-star. Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN reported that Toronto was discussing a possible George deal with the thunder while trying to convince Leonard to return. There was no traction on a deal, but Leonard did not commit to the Clippers until George was in the hand. All signs indicated that Leonard was planning to join Lebron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers had failed to make a George deal. Taken together, it becomes clear that Leonard, the foremost free agent in Raptor history, did not see Siakam as a suitable co-star.
After the postseason he’s just had, other free agent destinations are likely to come up with the same conclusion. Why should Giannis Antetokounmpo choose Siakam opposite Luka Doncic or Jimmy Butler? In their current state, the Raptors not only lack a true superstar, they also lack the ability to lure one into the open market. Siakam may not be that much of a player, but he’s the bait that can catch you. It’s not as if the 26-year-old all-NBA grow forward on trees. When Philadelphia is not ready to bid Ben Simmons, Siakam is probably better than any other player right now Missiles are likely to be offered. Norman Powell could fulfill the double functions of added value and necessary salary filler.
The fit is cleaner than you might think. Fred VanVleet has never shot below 40 percent with catch-and-shoot 3 pointers. Kyle Lowry has previously worked with Leonard, VanVleet and DeMar DeRozan. Harden might actually help fill the post-defense void Marc Gasols Departure and OG Anunoby’s Presence is more than enough forward. The 16th-place offense in basketball couldn’t have called for a major upgrade. There would be signposts and trade routes to Giannis next summer, though they would be difficult. Miami’s decision to put away the maximum space simplifies the way. Toronto wouldn’t be the only applicant who needs Milwaukee’s assistance.
Harden’s effectiveness as a recruiter is secondary. Crucial is his influence on a Raptors team that has been weakened by free hand in consecutive off-seasons. Toronto has seen the need to be a true superstar for successive postseason now. Harden would give them that kind of superstar and possibly access to others. It would be hard to trade Siakam to get one, but Masai Ujiri did what it took to get Leonard. If he sees Harden as a way back into the championship fight, he’ll consider it.
Harden might not want to move to Minnesota, but he would hardly be her first Houston transplant. Former Rockets managers Gersson Rosas and Sachin Gupta currently run the Timberwolves and have created a roster that is specifically tailored to Harden. Karl Anthony Cities would be his best pick and roll partner ever, and he happens to be one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. The duo would almost certainly generate a top 3 offensive, especially with shooters like Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez in place.
D’Angelo Russell would satisfy Houston’s desire for an accomplished young player. Anthony Edwards rejects most of the draft capital requirement. The bet would be substantial on either side. Cities might not be thrilled if Rosas trades with close friend Russell just months after taking over. The Russell-Edwards pairing looks significantly less appealing with no cities attached, and John Wall complicates the matter further. Minnesota’s already weak defenses are likely to recede even further, without Edwards’ long-term uptrend.
But teams spend years forming duos like Harden and Towns. Defense is fundamentally easier to find than attack, and as long as the cities’ four-year contract looks like this, they must actually win if they are to keep it in the long run. Harden offers a significantly better chance than Russell and Edwards. When Harden and Towns do their shopping, it’s a no-brainer. Get the stars and solve the rest later. Unfortunately, that’s a Texas-sized “if,” and Harden is unlikely to be deterred of any potential by immediate competitors he is known to be interested in joining.
Most of the teams in this derby wonder if they can actually get Harden. New Orleans is wondering whether it should or not. When the pelicans go all-in, they can outbid anyone. Brandon Ingram will be tradable in February and there doesn’t seem to be many teams willing to give up the 23-year-old All-Stars for Harden. Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart and Kira Lewis are all first-round picks for rookie deals. Oh, and before we even address swap rights, the Pelicans can trade up to eight first round picks: four of their own, two from Milwaukee, and two from the Lakers. A fraction of that war chest would be the winning bid. You’d have enough left over to trade against the role-players a Harden-Zion Williamson duo might need. Eric Bledsoe, JJ Redick and Steven Adams are a nice start.
With that the question of “can” is answered. What about the “should” question? The answer is probably no. Williamson is 20. His best basketball may not come until Harden retires. The pelicans are likely to have their turn for organic confrontations a few years later. Why sacrifice that for a likely futile shot at the Lakers? Few teams in basketball are in less of a rush than the pelicans. You will be very good one day. That day doesn’t have to be soon.
But it’s worth asking how much confidence the pelicans have in Williamson’s long-term health. Torn meniscuses are frightening even for normal-sized basketball players. Williamson’s unique body raises its own concerns. The pelicans have a better view of its medical future than the masses. If they doubt its durability at all, they don’t like the idea of waiting for a prime that may not come up too much. Never underestimate the appeal of an instant championship match. The pelicans likely have a bright future from which to fight back, but the idea that they could fast-forward cannot be entirely discarded.
Denver has a brighter present than New Orleans and a more secure future. The nuggets are a smaller trade with no immediate engagement. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will get there sometime. Few teams should be less motivated to act for Harden than the Nuggets. You already have a top 5 offensive.
For Denver, however, there is every basketball argument in Brooklyn’s trading with Harden. The nets would have the NBA’s best insult with Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The Harden-Jokic-Murray Trio has the same redundancies but the same advantages. The nets would be weak defensively. The nuggets too. Harden may not be keen on landing in Denver with his heart in Brooklyn, and plans would be drastically different, but the basic plan of overwhelming opponents with offensive talent after the season applies to both.
Michael Porter Jr. is just the kind of star Brooklyn doesn’t have to offer. Gary Harris and Will Barton offer a positive salary filler. Denver has most of its own picks to offer, though Jokic and Murray are young enough to limit the worth of even their later ones. Sphere sphere is a fun sweetener. If the Rockets are looking to move up, the Bol-Porter-RJ Hampton trio has plenty to offer and is likely far enough away from their fully realized future to make Houston’s own picks more valuable over the next few seasons.
Chalk this as unlikely. The Nuggets aren’t the kind of organization to play the Porter card lightly, and if they did, a younger, more defensive counterpart would likely be targeted by Denver. Harden would make the nuggets better. He could even make them champions. But he’s less valuable to them than almost any other team in basketball. The falling returns on crime are likely enough of a deterrent to kill this trade in its manger. But wow, would a Denver crime with Harden be fatal? If the nuggets haven’t at least spoken this among themselves, they will soon.
