Bridges scored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in the first half. About two hours later, ESPN and The Athletic first reported that Harden was being moved. The deal will reportedly include a fourth team, the Indiana Pacers, but that aspect of the deal has not been made official yet. Sure, Houston did get Victor Oladipo from Indiana in exchange for Caris LeVert, but it appears that Stone wanted to cash out of the Harden experience by investing in the future, not the present. https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1384633523588386830?s=21. Harden is averaging 26 points and 11.2 assists per game in a Brooklyn uniform. ET, Nash again denies that Harden will be moved ahead of the deadline. Lets break down all the ripple effects from the seasons first eye-popping move. "Adding an All-NBA player such as James to our roster better positions our team to compete against the league's best," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. The Nets are scheduled to visit the Rockets on March 3 (7:30 p.m. Hopefully, theyll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game, Vaughn said. Embiid made only 7 of 15 shots (and all 11 free throws) and was flustered at times against double-teams that followed him all over the court. In his absence, a creator like Oladipo should have all the room he needs to flex his gamewhich is especially valuable for a former All-Star looking to reestablish himself in a contract year. The Nets were the No. Three months later, the Nets ultimately finished as the seven-seed with a record of 44-38. Cam Johnson may be the crown jewel of the haul at this point. Required fields are marked *. Now, if you look at Kyries contributions from a strictly statistical perspective, then perhaps you could make a case that the Nets precipitous drop in form is unrelated to his return. Scan this QR code to download the app now. As Lukas Matsson closes in on the acquisition of Waystar, Kendall pitches a revolutionary product: fancy retirement homes? The James Harden trade, of course, is a factor, but theres been speculation that Harden wanted the trade because of Kyries behavior, anyway. As a result of the 2019 Chris PaulforRussell Westbrook swap, the Thunder own the right to swap either their first-round pick or the Heats first pick (which they also own) in the 2021 draft for Houstons, as long as the Rockets pick doesnt land in the top four. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games. Across the four games against Brooklyn, Harden shot just 9-for-34 on 2-point shots. Sixers guard James Harden passes the basketball past Jan. 17, 2022 Without Durant, the Nets travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers. DeAnthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang all hit 3s -- the 76ers made 13 of 21 in the half -- to keep them in control of Game 1. Center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince are headed from the Nets to the Cavaliers, while the Rockets receive Cleveland guard Dante Exum and Brooklyn forward Rodions Kurucs. It's perhaps the biggest "what if?" The off-night from the floor wasnt good enough for Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. The offense is not the problem. Across the four games against Brooklyn, Harden shot just 9-for-34 on 2-point shots. Bringing in apparent con-artist Ben Simmons certainly didnt help the situation, either. The Nets, who played the Charlotte Hornets on the road on Tuesday, fell to under .500 (32-33) with a tough 126-120 loss in Boston on Sunday versus the Celtics. Or they go out and trade Simmons for someone like Bradley Beal. Bridges kept Game 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort. Playing alongside Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis should get him only the best of looks, and unlike Allenwho landed on a team that is rebuildingLeVert will still be on a playoff team, and perhaps a more dangerous one because of him. Caris, Jarrett, Rodions and Taurean were instrumental to the team's success and have made an enormous impact on our organization. The Rockets, sources said, also addressed the idea of including second-year guard Jalen Green, the No. MORE:Why reportedly unhappy James Harden could move on from Nets. Houston should be reasonably competitive after reorienting its roster, but the heart of an undersized team remains. The Rockets will surely be relieved to see Oladipo after Hardens high-usage pouting reached new extremes this week, but a vibe upgrade can take a team that just lost its franchise player only so far. I couldnt make a layup, the 33-year-old Harden said with a laugh. Dont get me wrong: Houston still got an impressive haul, but its difficult to peg the Rockets as winners in this. In total, for James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets got 7 first-round picks (22 PHI, 23 PHX, 25 PHX, 27 PHI, 27 PHX, 29 DAL, 29 PHX) plus a pick swap (28 PHX). The formula of scoring at will can work in the regular season. The draft cupboard is full for Brooklyn over the next six years. No less than three hours later, Wojnarowski reports the framework of an agreed-upon trade between the Sixers and Nets that sends Harden to Philadelphia and Simmons to Brooklyn. "And they're really a powerhouse right now in the East having KD, James Harden, Kyrie Irving together on one team. Harden, 32, who forced a trade from the Houston Rockets to the Nets in January of 2021, wanted out of Brooklyn a year later. In Brooklyn, they can keep that development going under no pressure. Breaking down the Golden State-Los Angeles matchup with 3 things to watch, 1 X-factor and a series prediction. TO PACERS: Caris LeVert (from Rockets via Nets); 2023 second-round pick from the Rockets, TO CAVALIERS: Jarrett Allen (from Nets), Taurean Prince (from Nets). By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. I just seen the little screenshot, how close I was to ending they season off that shot, but it wasn't in God's plan." In Indy, LeVert should continue leaping his way toward stardom and the system the Pacers provide should bring out the best in him. However, there is that 119.9 defensive At the time of Kyries return on January 5, the Nets were the Easts second seed with a record of 24-12 (winning percentage of 66%). After a hot start defensively, the Nets have given up 113.2 points per 100 possessions in their past eight games, ranking 25th in the league in that span. It helps that The Beard knows his role alongside Joel Embiid, has his health and his signature step-back is back on point from beyond the arc. 9 seed in the conference as of Tuesday. In the end, they lost a player who has been playing at an MVP level for the past four seasons. My focus is on the season and winning a championship. Were just not good enough I love this city. Philly almost gave up a multipositional All-NBA anomaly before he even turned 25 to get Harden. Potentially swapping with the Rockets in 2021 shouldnt be a problem. In the trade, the Nets send center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince to Cleveland, and guard Caris LeVert and forward Rodions Kurucs, as well as three first round draft picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) and four first round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027) to Houston. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? ", "On behalf of the entire Rockets organization and the City of Houston, I'd like to thank James Harden for an amazing eight-plus seasons in a Rockets uniform," Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta said in a statement. Jan. 15, 2022 Durant suffers an MCL sprain in his left knee that will sideline him for the next four-to-six weeks. He made 10 of 16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, who opened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championship aspirations, within nine at halftime. May 15, 2021 Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. "When James is being James, it makes our job a lot easier," Irving said. Congratulations to Jordan for winning back his job; being a great friend really does pay. The 2020-21 NBA season has already had its share of misfortune, but Wednesday finally brought a pleasant surprise: its first superstar trade.After a Obviously, Simmons is a former All-Star. Harden refused to sign the three-year, $161 million contract extension this past summer, and has reportedly been disgruntled over the course of the season. Harden became the first player known to ever post a 30-15-10 line without committing a single turnover, though individual turnovers have only been tracked since the 1977-78 season. The Nets will be in Philadelphia tonight to take on the 76ers in the first meeting between them since the trade. We examine all the ripple effects from Wednesdays four-team blockbuster deal. Allen will get more shots and more chances to stretch his game offensively on the Cavs than he ever would have as the fifth option in Brooklyn. The feel-good reunion lasted about 15 minutes and Bridges was traded to Phoenix for Zhaire Smith. Aug. 8, 2021 Durant agrees to a four-year, $198 million extension with the Nets, keeping him with the franchise through the 2025-26 NBA season. 2 and sent Harden to Brooklyn. The Rockets will undoubtedly be worse without Harden, who is good enough to drag a mediocre team to the playoffs by himself, but they also shouldnt be so terriblewith a talented trio in Oladipo, Wall, and Woodthat they trigger top-four protection. Just not in the way he thinks. Oops. He was a no-show when camp opened and was later fined $50,000 for conduct detrimental to the league after attending an indoor event without a mask in violation of the NBA's health and safety protocols. Feb. 2, 2022 In a confounding loss to the Kings, Harden scores four points (on 2 of 11 shooting), to go along with 12 assists, seven rebounds and six turnovers in 37 minutes of action. Harden, who appears to be out of shape after joining the Rockets after training camp began, is averaging 24.8 this season after three straight seasons above 30, culminating in MVP honors in 2018. That means the Nets are allowing that many points per 100 possessions. Pritchard has already gotten more than hes paid for with Oladipo, Sabonis, and Brogdon. There are many things about Kyrie that can be questioned but his talent is not one of them: the man is a superstar. Long-shot suitors like the Raptors or Celtics would have needed to take a sledgehammer to their existing cores just to piece together the kind of deal the Rockets might entertain. The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. The Rockets also get Cleveland's 2022 first-round pick, via the Milwaukee Bucks, and Houston is sending a 2023 second-round pick to the Pacers, sources told ESPN. My family and I also want to thank James for his many off the court contributions, including generous charitable donations and multiple annual community events. Both Drummond and McGee will enter unrestricted free agency after this season, while the Cavs will control Allens rights in restricted free agency. Brooklyn also gets a 2024 second-round pick from the Cavaliers. Since then, the team has gone 5-3 and has only held an opponent under 115 points on one occasion. The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports. While their 6-3 record is impressive, the Nets defense is clearly a massive issue. For more information, please see our Tobias Harris added 21 points and the 76ers hit a postseason team-record 21 3s in the opener of this Eastern Conference playoff series. Good job, Nets. Which teams crushed the draft, and which came up short? NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, The deal will reportedly include a fourth team, the Indiana Pacers, but that aspect of the deal has not been made official yet. 33. With Jimmy Butler hobbled late by an ankle injury, Miami gets big performances from Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love to take the series opener in New York. Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday. Whatever he was going through or is still going through, thats his personal preference. In the bigger picture, though, Allen might make out OK here. And it's good to balance it out.". Feb. 9, 2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey reportsthat the Sixers and Nets held conversations surrounding a Harden-Simmons swap but added that Brooklyn brass was split on whether the team should keep or trade Harden. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. No matter how this season went, Oladipo wasnt long for Indiana. Since the NBA playoff bracket does not reseed, the Sixers will play the No. The Nets beat the Knicks 116-109 thanks in large part to Durants 26-point effort. While his scoring has decreased from the absurd levels he reached in Houston, he has averaged an NBA-best 11.1 assists per game since joining the Nets to go along with 8.4 rebounds per contest. Rivers said coaching against Curry, who played under his father-in-law with the 76ers before he was traded last season, was awkward., Talking to my daughter this morning, I just thought she was cold, Rivers said, laughing. Plus Andrew Callahan on the Pats Draft, and a Preview of Celtics-Sixers With Raheem Palmer. The Rockets are just 3-6 so far this season and only Minnesota has a worse record in the Western Conference. Then came a pair of embarrassments in rapid succession: Bridges celebrated on draft night with his mom, who worked at the time for the 76ers. Nash revealed that Simmons has had a back issue that he described as a little flare-up. The 25-year-old No. Feb. 6, 2022 According toa report from The Athletic's Shams Charania, sources indicate that a trade that would send Harden to the 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons at the trade deadline is a legitimate possibility. It has been a pleasure watching them grow both as players and as people and they will always be part of our Nets family. From NBA.com News D'Antoni didn't return after last season, and it quickly became clear Harden wanted out too. Harden wasnt just a superstar, but a one-man hierarchy. The Nets go all-in, pairing Harden with fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a move impacting multiple teams in both conferences. Breaking down the trade with stats, film and analysis on Brooklyn, Houston, Cleveland and Indiana. The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. With Durant signing first, focus shifts to Harden and Irving, who would both soon be extension-eligible. Wasserman also represented Russell Westbrook and worked closely with the Rockets on his trade to Wizards. But the Rockets chose door no. The James Harden trade, of course, is a factor, but Then Allen started one game against Utah and tallied 19 points and 18 boardsand stayed in that position every game since. Remember, Harden is making $40.8 million this season and $43.8 million next season, and he even holds a $46.9 million option for 2022-23. The Nets are thriving as a result, and when Durant returns, they will be able to make a run at the title of best offense in NBA history. "But, at the end of the day, we've got to focus on ourselves. Paolo Uggetti: New Rockets GM Rafael Stone may be a Daryl Morey disciple, but right now all I can picture is a Sam Presti poster taped to his office wall in Houston. The odds are (and the numbers suggest) this new Big Three is too talented to fail, but someones going to have to take a backseat, and despite all his recent gripes, Harden reportedly got everything he wanted during his nine years in Houston. Hes confident in how we play now, coach Doc Rivers said. The 2018 MVP put on an absolute clinic against San Antonio, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists and grabbing 14 rebounds in the victory. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at Following the deal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver had this to say of what led to the trade: "I accept that there will always be conversations behind closed doors, when teams are unhappy, or players are unhappy, [but] the last thing you want to see is for these issues to play out publicly. The trade also involves the Cleveland Cavaliers. What happened in the next 24 hours will take many days to unpack and clean up. Oct. 19, 2021 Harden does not sign a three-year, $162 million extension that would keep him with the Nets through the 2025-26 season, saying "I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have The contract and all that stuff will play itself out as it should. He doesn't owe anybody an explanation, and I wasn't looking for one.". MORE: James Harden, Ben Simmons trade details: Nets, 76ers swap All-Stars in blockbuster deal. Per multiple reports, the Pacers would acquire LeVert and a future second-round pick from the Rockets in exchange for All-Star guard Victor Oladipo. ET, ESPN) -- the last game of the first half of their schedules. Hes also developing some scoring chops himself, which is another plus for Brooklyn. But Brooklyns starless roster was no match for Embiid, Harden and a playoff-tested roster expected to make a deep run in the postseason. June 5, 2021 43 seconds into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bucks, Harden exits with a hamstring injury that would hold him out of Games 2 through 4 of the series. Archived post. That stark difference is telling. But ultimately, Harden will leave behind a big void. That's tough. Known primarily for his exploits in isolation, Harden has adjusted to suit the needs of his new team by sacrificing his own scoring for the sake of his teammates. Those words temporarily torpedoed Oladipos trade stock, but they were also likely the final straw for Pacers president Kevin Pritchard, who saw history repeating itself with one of the players he acquired for the last superstar who begged out of town. The superstar era is over in Brooklyn. For several hours on Wednesday, the Sixers seemed certain to land Harden, with just some dotting of the is and crossing of the ts and withholding of the Maxeys to be completed. Udoka takes over a team that made the playoffs in 8 straight seasons before the trade of James Harden in 2021 led to a rebuild. Hours after the deal was done, Durant, an All-Star captain, declined to select Harden during the draft for the upcoming All-Star Game. Nets acquire James Harden in blockbuster trade The 3-time scoring champ is headed to Brooklyn in a deal involving Houston and Cleveland. Embiid was smacked in the face on a missed dunk that sent him crashing to the court in an attempt to draw a flagrant foul. NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial). Big Number 13-3. Harden is ready to take the floor against former teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving; Simmons is gradually preparing for his Nets debut at a yet-to-be publicly stated date. You can probably name more than a dozen NBA players who have lived that out, if not more, and yet it seems like few have dealt with as much uncertainty as LeVert the past two seasons. The lesson: When a player like Harden requests a trade, hell more or less get what he wants; when a player like Oladipo pushes for one, hell have to settle for whatever he can get. The Knicks became the first team in the NBA this season to hold an opponent under 80 points and look to take a 3-1 lead in the series on Sunday when they Feb. 2, 2021 Harden hits the ground running in Brooklyn, averaging 24.1 points, 12.0 assists and 8.2 rebounds through his first nine games with his new team. But considering their circumstances, the Nets made out pretty well. They held a five-point lead late, only for the Wizards to score six points in a matter of seconds to turn the sure win into a loss. 1 overall pick in 2016 hasnt played in an NBA game since last June when the 76ers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Atlanta Hawks. OFFICIAL: The Brooklyn Nets have acquired six-time All-NBA first teamer and eight-time NBA All-Star James Harden.https://t.co/tkh5dCKi5F, Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 14, 2021, Sources: Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets via @ESPN App https://t.co/oRRwHi2JBv, Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021. Feb. 13, 2021 In a win over the Warriors, Durant tweaks his left hamstring, an injury that would ultimately hold him out for seven weeks and 22 games. Hes closing in on the top 10 in PER, and he already sits No. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. He's also notched seven triple-doubles since joining Brooklyn. You cannot simply outshoot every single opponent, and the lack of any real defense is a concern for Brooklyn. the Nets season flipped with the return of Irving. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports. Not only is 124.6 the worst in the league, but it is actually the worst in NBA history! WebNets record since the Harden trade: 14-3 with Harden & Irving 5-2 with the Big 3 4-2 with just Harden 3-3 with just Irving 2-2 with Durant & Irving 2-0 with James Harden makes history in Nets' win over Spurs, notches seventh triple-double since trade to Brooklyn Harden is the first player to record at least 30 points, 15 Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. The Houston Rockets have a lot of work to do this summer to improve their roster after finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA, and their first move was to find a new coach. While not nearly quite dipping to the bed-soiling levels Harden explored against the Lakers that same night, Simmonss five-points-and-a-foul-out turn (albeit softened by his 12 assists and six boards) was the kind of game a player has when they know the next thing they have to do is pack their bags. "Obviously they got better, way better," Antetokounmpo said after recording a triple-double in Milwaukee's victory Wednesday over the Pistons. We wish each of them and their families all the best in the future. Please check your email for a confirmation. Jan. 12, 2022 Two nights after a confounding loss to the Trail Blazers, Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for what would be the 16th and final time, as the Nets cruise to an impressive 26-point blowout win against the Bulls. The Brooklyn Nets suffered a shocking loss Sunday night against the Washington Wizards. We already have evidence of that so far as the Nets are 13-9 so far this season. MORE:Kevin Durant hilariously refuses to select former teammate James Harden, Feb. 12, 2022 Durant speaks to the media prior to the Nets game in Miami, saying"James doesn't have to explain anything to anybody," adding that "he's his own man. I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. Harden, who topped the league in assists this season, picked up the slack and stuck it to the Nets with his step-back 3s. (Whether the tax-minded Rockets will be interested in doing so remains to be seen.). Any of Brooklyns three stars could opt for free agency in 2022, and in the process, change the math on this entire proposition. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The Winners and Losers of the James Harden Trade. Silas called the drama surrounding Harden an all-around messed up situation.. 2 seed Celtics even though the But, as we know, sports despite how the analytics nerds may try (and are largely very successful at because analytics are the future of sports, I get it) arent a purely binary, data-driven prospect. In the years to come, Allen could team with Larry Nance Jr. and rookie Isaac Okoro to form the core of a consistently stout defensesomething Cleveland has lacked ever since LeBron James left town. All Rights Reserved. "My big ass foot stepped on the line. On paper, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden had a very productive first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. The sample size here is small, but if the Wizards can score 149 against Brooklyn, who knows how many points a team like the Milwaukee Bucks can drop over the course of a seven-game series? Houston also receives three unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn -- in 2022, 2024 and 2026 -- plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027, the Nets announced.