Rockets trade James Harden to Nets in four-team deal

The James Harden saga ended Wednesday, January 13 (Thursday, January 14, Phlippine time) when the Houston Rockets traded him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team trade, according to multiple reports.

The trade comes one day after a disgruntled Harden went on a postgame rant following Tuesday’s 117-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets told Harden not to attend Wednesday’s practice. (READ: Harden walks off presser amid ‘crazy situation,’ Wall responds)

Houston reportedly received guard Victor Oladipo from the Indiana Pacers, guard Dante Exum from the Cleveland Cavaliers, forward Rodions Kurucs of the Nets, 3 first-round draft picks from the Nets, one unprotected 2022 first-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers (via the Milwaukee Bucks) and the right to swap four first-round picks with the Nets.

Guard Caris LeVert and a second-round pick will go from the Nets to the Pacers, and center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince go from Brooklyn to the Cavaliers with Cleveland sending a 2024 second-round pick to the Nets.

The first-round picks Houston received from the Nets are in 2022, 2024, 2026. The swaps are in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027.

The trade reunites Harden with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant. They played together for 3 seasons before Harden was dealt to the Rockets in 2013.

Harden, 31, has been upset with the Rockets since the departures of coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey after last season.

Harden, an eight-time All-Star, has 3 years, $133 million with a player option for the final season remaining on his current deal.

Harden is averaging 24.8 points per game – down from his career average of 25.2 – after reporting late to training camp. However, his assists are up to 10.4 per game from a career average of 6.3.

Harden has led the NBA in scoring in each of the past 3 seasons with averages of 30.4, 36.1 and 34.3.

The Rockets traded Russell Westbrook to Washington for John Wall in a battle of point guards just before the start of camp. 

Westbrook’s one-year teaming with Harden didn’t pay off, as the Rockets lost in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in 5 games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nets have experienced their own recent drama with Kyrie Irving away from the team for personal reasons.

Unnecessary drama

The shakeup in Houston gives the franchise a fresh start. Less than an hour before reports of the trade erupted, Rockets big man DeMarcus Cousins blasted Harden and said he had been “disrespectful” to the franchise and causing unnecessary drama.

“Just the approach to training camp, showing up the way he did, the antics off the court, the disrespect started way before (Tuesday night),” Cousins said of Harden. 

“This isn’t something that all of the sudden happened last night, but with that being said, like I said, this is the nasty part of the business. So it is what it is.”

Joining the Rockets is Oladipo, 28, a two-time All-Star who is in the final season of a four-year, $84 million deal. The Pacers weren’t expected to sign him to another deal and were looking to send him packing prior to the trade deadline.

Oladipo is averaging 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 9 games this season. He has career averages of 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 430 games (370 starts) in 8 seasons with the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Pacers.

Exum, 25, is averaging 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 6 contests (3 starts) this season. He is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

Exum has career averages of 5.7 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 245 games (72 starts) in 6 seasons with the Utah Jazz and Cavaliers.

The 22-year-old Kurucs is averaging 0.6 points and 0.6 rebounds in 5 games this season. The 22-year-old Latvian has played 115 games (55 starts) in three seasons with the Nets with averages of 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds.

The Pacers landed the potent LeVert, who is averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games (4 starts).

Overall, the 26-year-old LeVert has career averages of 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 225 games (96 starts) in four-plus campaigns with the Nets.

Cleveland landed a promising big man in the 22-year-old Allen, who is averaging 11.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in 12 games (five starts this season). He also has 19 blocked shots.

The former first-round selection has career averages of 10.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in 234 games (180 starts). The fourth-year pro has 319 career blocked shots.

Prince, 26, was in his second season with the Nets and he was averaging 8.1 points and 2.8 rebounds. He spent his first 3 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and has career averages of 11.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 272 games (204 starts) in 5 seasons. – Rappler.com