the Nets season flipped with the return of Irving. Dan Devine: At first blush, this seems like it kind of sucks for Allen. The offense is not the problem. 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. Harden hired Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields from Wasserman, and they worked closely with the Rockets and all teams involved to secure the trade for him, sources told ESPN. 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. Just not in the way he thinks. I literally have done everything that I can, Harden said Tuesday night. Dont get me wrong: Houston still got an impressive haul, but its difficult to peg the Rockets as winners in this. At 10:45 a.m. From then on, the Nets will go through every season knowing all too well how quickly the ground could give out beneath them. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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? 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. 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. 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. But when you introduce an All-World talent like Kyrie Irving into your alchemy, its going to change your solar systems gravity. The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. 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). Since the NBA playoff bracket does not reseed, the Sixers will play the No. I didnt appreciate the conversation., More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris (12) shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (26) in the second half during Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs, Saturday, April 15, 2023, in Philadelphia. This time, he yields Caris LeVert, a young player with All-Star potential, and an already signed contract that guarantees he would do so in a Pacers uniform. WebSince the Harden trade, the Nets are allowing 124.6 points per game, the worst DRtg of any team in the league from any year in history. Harden and Durant, who have combined to win seven of the past 11 NBA scoring titles entering this season, become the fifth pair of teammates in NBA history to play on the same team after winning multiple scoring titles, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Power Rankings Notebook: Impact of Harden trade, 2020-21 Trade Tracker: Every official trade, Series preview: What to expect in Warriors-Lakers, 5 takeaways from Warriors' Game 7 victory, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win over Knicks, Curry sets Game 7 record with 50 points vs. Kings, Brooks fined $25K for violating interview rules. ", "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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. James Harden is heading to Brooklyn, joining old teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to give the Nets a potent trio of the some of the NBAs highest scorers. The process was unseemly, but like Anthony Davis before him, Harden ultimately got what he wanted. But it definitely did impact the team because originally me, Kyrie and KD on the court andwinning covers up a lot of that stuff but it was unfortunate that we played 16 games out of whatever it was. Hes closing in on the top 10 in PER, and he already sits No. The Brooklyn Nets are on pace for some record-breaking numbers following the acquisition of James Harden. Harden does not travel with the team to Washington for a game scheduled for the night of Feb. 10. D'Antoni didn't return after last season, and it quickly became clear Harden wanted out too. The Nets go all-in, pairing Harden with fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a move impacting multiple teams in both conferences. On paper, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden had a very productive first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. "Obviously they got better, way better," Antetokounmpo said after recording a triple-double in Milwaukee's victory Wednesday over the Pistons. That is mind-blowing and shows they can score at will. The Athletics Shams Charania breaks down the reported blockbuster trade. 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. The Beard got his wish, the Nets got their third star, and the Sixers got well, nothing for now. It could pick back up again in Brooklyn, where Nash's assistant running the offense is Mike D'Antoni, Harden's coach during his best seasons in Houston. Breaking down the Golden State-Los Angeles matchup with 3 things to watch, 1 X-factor and a series prediction. 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. But theres no pressure to do anything for Brooklyn right now, so he can continue to ease his way back. If the front office could live with giving up every pick and swap it had on offer, the Nets could stay in the running and potentially outbid a Sixers package built around Ben Simmons on volume alone. I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. As the former MVP slid to the Team LeBron in the last pick of the draft, it became clear that Durant consciously made the decision not to select his former teammate. Any team that traded for Harden would leave itself vulnerable. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Since then, the team has gone 5-3 and has only held an opponent under 115 points on one occasion. The previous high for 3s in a playoff game was 18, which had been done twice. Jan. 25, 2022 Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reports that Harden would welcome a change of scenery in the offseason, citing disappointment with the rotations of head coach Steve Nash, frustration with Irving's part-time availability (which was exacerbated by Durant's absence) and a general lack of enjoyment of living in New York. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. At this point, hes more of a project. 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. The performance, statistically speaking, was historic. Across the four games against Brooklyn, Harden shot just 9-for-34 on 2-point shots. (Whether the tax-minded Rockets will be interested in doing so remains to be seen.). Ditto for Caris LeVert, a player who is similar to Harden in function but worse in every meaningful way. Cookie Notice Across the four games against Brooklyn, Harden shot just 9-for-34 on 2-point shots. Hes also developing some scoring chops himself, which is another plus for Brooklyn. Those aspirations have since evaporated into thin air, though, as the 7th-seeded Nets are currently down 0-3 to the clearly superior Boston Celtics and are on the verge of being swept out of the first round. 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. "My big ass foot stepped on the line. But ultimately, Harden will leave behind a big void. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Amsterdam News Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. and our Sixers guard James Harden passes the basketball past ET, ESPN) -- the last game of the first half of their schedules. 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. Giants need to make a Godfather offer for Deshaun Watson, Carl Banks Super Bowl memories: So much more than wide right. Thats a bummer, no matter how you spin it. However, there is that 119.9 defensive 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. May 15, 2021 Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. This time, though, theyve got a bit of a head start thanks to the haul they got back in return for their Big 3. Bridges seemed he would stay in the area when he was drafted by the 76ers with the No. Harden won each of the last three scoring titles by notable margins 2.3 points over Anthony Davis in 2017-18, 8.1 points over Paul George in 2018-19 and 3.8 points over Bradley Beal last season. The question is: Did they dangle Simmons so far out in the trade waters that theres no reeling him back in? Breaking down the trade with stats, film and analysis on Brooklyn, Houston, Cleveland and Indiana. The Nets and Barclays Center lost between $50 million and $100 million combined in the 2021-22 season, giving Tsai perhaps the worst financial losses in the He buried two 3s late against his former team in the second quarter that stretched the lead to double digits. Oct. 13, 2021 The Athletic's Shams Charania says on "The Glue Guys" podcast that the Nets will not be offering Irving an extension. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. As for the picks? 3-seeded 76ers host Game 2 on Monday. As thrilling and loud as it was for Game 7 on Saturday at Barclays Center, the Nets died in overtime, 115-111, and lasted just one round further than the rebuilding Knicks. His average so far this season ranked 18th in the NBA, well off his usual pace. In the meantime, the Nets were short-handed for their game against the New York Knicks, where coach Steve Nash declined to discuss Harden but did confirm that the players the Nets were trading were not in the building. 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. Harden was dealt to the 76ers for Simmons just two hours before the 3 p.m. trade deadline. Kevin Durant has missed 11 of Brooklyn's last 12 games, but despite a rocky start, the Nets have now won nine of their past 10 with Harden at the helm. About two hours later, ESPN and The Athletic first reported that Harden was being moved. At the Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, the Nets moved ahead of the Bucks and are now the second-favorites to win the NBA title, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers. Matt Dollinger: The irony was not lost on me when the Pacers traded the guy who infamously said Can I come play with yall? to a 3-6 team in the state of Texas (and in a state of chaos). James Harden did not play, but his team still managed to score 146 points. The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. It has been noted that Rockets have the best defensive rating while the Nets have the worst defensive rating before tonight's games. And it's good to balance it out.". Harden's passing ability served as the center of an arsenal that made him an All-American, All-Star and MVP. Both Drummond and McGee will enter unrestricted free agency after this season, while the Cavs will control Allens rights in restricted free agency. Hours after the deal was done, Durant, an All-Star captain, declined to select Harden during the draft for the upcoming All-Star Game. https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1384633523588386830?s=21. Rivers and fans, and last summer demanded a trade. All Rights Reserved. Once Morey bolted for Philadelphia, Stone immediately felt the weight of player empowerment pressure. Harden made his Nets debut on Jan. 16. Here are five questions that could determine that series outcome. "James has provided us with so many great memories as we've watched him grow from Sixth Man of the Year to a perennial All-Star and MVP. On Monday, he played his fifth game with the 76ers, a 121-106 win against the Chicago Bulls to improve the Sixers record to 40-24, second best in the East. The picks are a soothing balm for the mess of the past few months, but they are still unknown quantities in the wake of losing the face of the franchise. Oct. 12, 2021 Nets general manager Sean Marks announces that Irving will not play or practice with the Nets until he is eligible to be a full participant. From where things stand in 2021, this is as much a move as a message; Harden is worth this kind of haul on his own merits, but even more to a franchise that is building a bond with Durant it hopes will last far beyond his current contract. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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 The Washington Wizards Absolutely Stole One From the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving acknowledges his embarrassing defensive performance against the Wizards, The Whiteboard: Nets, Rockets both got better in the James Harden trade, Wizards score 6 points in 4 seconds for miraculous comeback vs. Nets (Video). Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games. 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. "A lot of the dominant NBA players have been in the West for whatever reason. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 2340 Frederick Douglass Blvd. The trade also involves the Cleveland Cavaliers. After recording his fourth Nets triple-double in a win over the LA Clippers, Harden takes to Twitter to share a photo of Brooklyn's Big Three with the caption "Scary Hours!". 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. But considering their circumstances, the Nets made out pretty well. The Rockets also receive guard Dante Exum and a 2022 first round draft pick from Cleveland (via Milwaukee), and Brooklyn acquires a 2024 second round draft pick from the Cavaliers to complete the deal. That and more from a full weekend of picks. But thats the least of my worries. Hes just doing some light shooting, and just physical therapy, said Nets head coach Steve Nash before Sundays game. Despite missing a number of key players, they managed to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final 2:12 of regulation to force overtime. 122.6 offensive rating Best in league Would be the best of all time, 119.9 defensive rating Worst in league Would be the worst of all time pic.twitter.com/B5EbhfuEzH. 76ers: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rang the ceremonial bell. 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. the 2019 Chris PaulforRussell Westbrook swap, Everything You Need to Know About the James Harden Trade. The disgruntled superstar, who was unable to get the Rockets past the Western Conference finals, had remained quiet through months of reports that he was unhappy in Houston. The Bruins Choke. Bringing in apparent con-artist Ben Simmons certainly didnt help the situation, either. Keep track of all the official trades announced during the 2020-21 NBA season. The Philadelphia 76ers will have competition in their bid to keep James Harden around past this season, as Hardens former team, the Houston Rockets. How did things get to the point of no return? ET. Congratulations to Jordan for winning back his job; being a great friend really does pay. 6 in win shares. Sept. 27, 2021 Due to New York City guidelines surrounding persons unvaccinated for COVID-19, Irving is unavailable to join the Nets at media day ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season. He should be much happier in Brooklyn, having teamed with Durant in Oklahoma City when they were younger and remaining close still. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The Winners and Losers of the James Harden Trade. He also tied Reggie Miller for third on the NBAs all-time three-pointers made list with 2,560. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Heading into the season, the Nets then armed with the talents of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden were the betting favorites to win the NBA title with odds of +225 to lift the Larry OBrien trophy. 2 and sent Harden to Brooklyn. Philly was 5-0 since acquiring Harden going into last nights (Wednesday) game hosting the Phoenix Suns. Your email address will not be published. (3:07). By adding Harden, the Nets will be able to trot out a lineup of three players capable of scoring 25 or more points on any night, giving them a collection of firepower to rival any big three in recent years. "My first thought: It's good to get James Harden to the East," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. That means the Nets are allowing that many points per 100 possessions. Harden had all the right moves against the Nets. 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. James Harden averaged 29.6 points over his 621 regular season games with Houston. 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. At least Sam Presti can reap the rewards of one Harden trade. First-year Rockets head coach Stephen Silas called the drama surrounding Harden an "all-around messed up situation. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that the Nets are "absolutely engaged" in trade discussions despite Nash commenting that Harden will be with the team past the deadline. 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. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Durant, who scored 26 points in the Nets' 116-109 win over the Knicks on Wednesday, is averaging 29.4 points through nine games in his first season back from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. Its why quarterbacks are often hailed for their intangibles. Its undeniable that the unquantifiable is often as relevant as the tangible and the tactile. Competitively speaking, this is a demotion. March 10, 2022 The 76ers are scheduled to host the Nets for the first time since the blockbuster trade. Harden's passing ability served as the center of an arsenal that made him Stephen A.: After Harden trade, it's 'Finals or bust' for the Nets (3:07), Brooklyn-bound: Nets land Harden in blockbuster, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Hobbled Butler serves as 'decoy' late in Heat win, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, How do Stephen Curry and the Warriors keep doing this?! The megadeal reunites Harden with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant in Brooklyn and positions the Nets, who also have All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, as title contenders in the Eastern Conference. 10 pick in the 2018 draft. The Nets have three open roster spots to fill out their bench, if they choose -- a $5.7 million tax midlevel, the minimum exception and likely a $5.7 million disabled player exception. James Harden's 2s. The Nets kept it close in both games, but ultimately, their poor performance in the clutch let them down. Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. 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. 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. The Nets were ready to swoop in, after a shaky defense during the early season proved their best chance to beat teams might be to outscore them. June 15, 2021 In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Irving goes down with an ankle sprain that would ultimately hold him out of the remainder of the series. The turning point in the Nets season, of course, came in mid-January when mercurial All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving rejoined the team after seemingly endless months of discourse surrounding his immunization status. After weeks of enduring the Harden debacle and weighing offers, Stone ultimately opted for the tantalizing potential of future first-round draft picks (four of them, plus four pick swaps). As anyone can see, the defense is a joke, and as it turns out, is on pace to be historically bad. There was no way he could play another game in Houston, and that begs the question of whether the Rockets should have dealt Harden before the season even began. James Harden left Mondays 114-112 win over the Knicks with right hamstring tightness after having missed the previous two games with the same injury. 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. TO NETS: James Harden (from Rockets), 2024 second-round pick from the Cavaliers, PLAYERS TO ROCKETS: Victor Oladipo (from Pacers), Dante Exum (from Cavs), Rodions Kurucs (from Nets). Either Philly does some serious damage control, decries the trade talk as gossip, and states that Ben is our guy, and then Simmons actually believes it. Jan. 14, 2021 After weeks of friction in Houston and a trade request, Harden is traded from the Rockets to the Nets as part of a four-team trade. Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. James Hardens sixth sense: What makes playmaking critical to the Sixers stars game. ESPN's Malika Andrews and The Associated Press contributed to this report. It was obvious the end was nearing Wednesday, when the Rockets told him they didnt want him at practice after his inflammatory comments about the team.