I agree with everything here except I think Harden is attainable if FVV waives his NTC thing. FVV/Tari/Picks is a good deal for 36 year old Harden and he most likely will choose where he wants to go should they trade him. Tari might not even have to be part of the package but I'm seeing it more as swapping FVV for Harden. But I agree the OKC and Spurs comparisons are irrelevant. One, Spurs are reliant on a genetic freak whose body size makes it far more likelier he'll get hurt. Two, OKC is not as amazing as people make them out to be. They run through bad teams but barely squeak by other top teams. Hear it around here, they are KD/Steph Warriors are Jordan's bulls. That's the same team that needed Gordon and Haliburton to get hurt to win their first title. Everyone here is so scared of this team that they are willing to turtle up and blow the team up and rebuild because their dynasty is assured. Scary ahh fans. I still think Harden would be a good get if we essentially trade FVV for him, since FVV isn't returning this season and we DESPERATELY need a PG.
I don't disagree with that. He's older now, but current set up doesn't have anyone to start and sustain the engine. A buyout for any experienced PG is needed.
Ime Udoka said pregame Kyrie Irving and James Harden were the team leaders with the Brooklyn Nets. How was Durant changed since joining a young Houston team? “He’s had to embrace more of his a-hole side.”
I'm not sure if the Clippers are interested in trading him but if they are Houston needs to offer Tari and pick and see where that gets them.
The salaries doesn't match if we offer FVV/Tari ($30M) for Harden ($39M)...we'll have to trade FVV/DFS/Okogie for Harden - those salaries will match
James Harden invited MSU shooting survivor John Hao and his entire family to the Clippers game tonight. It's a friendship that's lasted over two years dating from when he was 76er. Another example of Harden's special relationship with fans. "It's not just a one time thing. He had something was literally life-changing happen to him. For him to still be strong enough, we talked before the game and he's about to get his Masters. That's just something... you know, first of all, I don't even have a college degree. For someone to have something that's life-changing and still has the motivation to keep pushing and keep going - that motivates me. Just keep pushing in whatever obstacles I feel like I'm going through in life. Strong human being, strong man, and I'm just proud of him." respect
Maybe Trade machine is wrong but wouldn't even need Okogie. Throw in Phx 2027 pick, maybe a future protected pick, It's hard to imagine them getting a better deal for 26 year old Harden and Harden will get to pick and choose where he goes since he's Harden. I doubt he'd go to Minny over Houston, I mean I'd be surprised, I think if the Rockets showed interest in getting him he'd do what he could to come back here and as far as anyone knows him and KD are still 'brothers' as that post above says. Only other team I think that would compete with us are Miami, but they are notoriously stingy with giving up any of their assets. As for why the Clippers would do it, they need to blow that up, it's been clear. They need to trade as many vets they can for any picks and young players they can. Rolling with this for too long could be the difference between a 2-3 year rebuild and a 5+ year rebuild.
championships trump all these days if Harden won the title in 2018, his legacy and the discourse surrounding him would be totally different…same with Chris Paul and Daryl Morey he’d be a top 20 player all-time
Hard capped and under by just a million-&-change. Salaries need to be near perfect. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/trade-machine/_/year/2025/team1/hou/team2/lac VanVleet+Capela+Eason+minimum(Okogie, Holiday, Tate, or Green) VanVleet+DFS+minimum Adams+DFS+Capela+Eason (depleting all your center/forward depth) Adams+DFS+Sheppard+minimum Adams+Sheppard+Capela+Eason+minimum DFS+Sheppard+Capela+Eason+minimum *VanVleet, Holiday & Tate can veto any trade *Harden can also veto any trade *I would not trade Sheppard but Ime and others on here might lol
FVV, Capela, Tari, and a 1st round pick works for Harden…I’d do a deal like that for sure lol NBA Trade Machine says that increases our projected wins by 8, and decreases the Clippers by 13 FVV is out for the season Capela is a 3rd string C couldn’t come to anywhere close to an agreement on an extension for Tari, and he’s always injured something tells me Tari is gonna have a rude awakening next offseason…watch him end up doing a Quentin Grimes and taking the QO after he finds out teams aren’t rushing him to offer him 25+ mil/yr
I actually think that Tari is gonna get a offer around the DFS contract and we will match. I wish that Smith had played up to the point in the season that we are now so we could judge which is better to keep. I’d go with Eason now And I think, even if Smith had played, I would be feeling the same way. FVV+DFS+Capela+Uncle Jeff and a 1st rounder that is top 12 protected for Harden and Derrick Jones. Jones isn’t amazing but he’s a great athlete and he adds some length and explosiveness.
