John Granato: Raptors & Celtics favorites to land James Harden

nah i dont see it

 

I like a Celtics deal if we can flip Kemba to the Knicks for some draft picks.

They desperately want to win and need a PG.

 

tatum just signed an extension can’t be traded right now and he never would be anyways

 

You think Brown is a 1 or 2 on a title team? We have proof with Boston that he’s not.

 

Herro is fools gold I’m sorry the guy will end up on the Jazz for max money. Career will be in between Chandler Parsons and Mike Miller .

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/sportsnet-today/raptors-play-trade-james-harden/

Granato:
-For sure, there are talks
-For sure, Siakam and Brown are on the table
-Whether or not this happens is another story; someone may come along and make a better offer
-Harden will be out of here more than likely before the deadline but for sure if not after the season
-Those two teams are the favorites because those are the best offers
-I know the Rockets didn’t put this out there; this was a conversation in confidence I was privy to; I know they’re not putting it out there to up the stakes for everyone else but this is the best deal out there, which is why you and Boston are the favorite.

.....

 

brabra faints

 

Respectfully disagree. Unfortunately I don't think there is a player available that will turn into the #1 guy, but Brown is an elite defender whose offensive game has improved each year. He reminds me of the Butler/Leonard/Paul George careers the way they improve. Brown also isn't shy in the big moments.

My biggest concern with Herro is his defense is just ok and has a smaller frame (max potential is maybe a less athletic but better playmaking Ray Allen). He has great play making ability and can hit big shots, but I think that goes away big time as the #1 option. Once you take away that I don't know how he can affect the game. Brown on the other hand will continue to find ways to overcome it because he has the perfect NBA body for it to go along with the drive.

Again, I don't see anyone winning a ring with Herro, Simmons, Pascal, or Brown as their #1, but out of all of these prospects Brown is the only one I see turning into a Leonard/PG13/Butler type of player.

 

I would want Smart, Brown and filler plus picks

 

What makes Siakam so intriguing? Didn’t he just disappear in the playoff in the bubble?

What makes a 30m contract in Siakam preferable to a 30m in Simmons? Heart? Work ethics?

I’m genuinely perplexed.

 

Brown feels like Harrison Barnes

Rocket River

 

Fair enough. We obviously disagree but I respect your reasoning. I’ll be interested to see what the final package for Harden is...because it will go a long way in determining the future of the Rockets and whatever team gets Harden.

 

Agreed! It probably has to be the number 2 guy at best. That’s why I wish the Nuggets would put Murray in the mix

 

Yeah you're right, my bad, i read it wrong as you were saying Brown plus Tatum.

Still, with only Tatum it doesn't change much, as it wouldn't change if we were asking for Doncic, but i guess we can agree that the Celtics could/should give us more then just Brown eventually, i also think no one is talking about a straight up Brown for Harden trade.

 

Im just going by reports that I read. Same reports you are privy to reading in the popular mainstream media. Harden does not think the Rockets are a contender according to reports. He has allegedly leaked a list of teams he wants to go to which he believes can contend for a title and Boston was not one of them. Boston has had the same core for the most part for several years making 3/4 ECF with Tatum who is arguably a true number 1 (playoff inconsistency) and has been searching for another superstar since kyrie’s departure. With the team possibly changing its core and being gutted with a trade what makes them the same type of contender? Why would Houston want anything less? if jaylen brown is in a deal I would expect smart to be in as well as other pieces to match salaries. This would drastically change and affect this core and the window to a championship would still take some time or exceed hardens window putting him in the same situation he is with the Rockets. On a macro level the logic of the trade does not seem to flow. It’s undoubtedly a gamble by the Celtics or if harden himself agrees to it.

 

Jaylen, Smart, and three FRP's.

 

If a Boston deal will be made that team should be gutted leaving harden with Tatum and a very uncertain season. That’s not what he wants. Why would a team take that risk of taking a player that doesn’t want to be there?

 

Delete

 

I would prefer Jaylen Brown or Siakam over Ben Simmons. Don’t forget that, because of the national perception, you would be taking back more in a Brown/Siakam trade than you would with Simmons where it might just be a straight up swap.

Simmons on the Rockets would be a taller version of Westbrook. We could surround him with four shooters to maximize his stats and the team’s performance, but at its ceiling that team is never winning a championship. In the post-Curry world this is a shooting league. Shooting is the most important skill, and he doesn’t have it. In fact, he’s never going to have it. This isn’t some 24yo Lebron or Jason Kidd story where the guy just needs to work on it as he gets older. It’s a yips situation. He won’t even attempt to improve it, because every time he tries he gets so embarrassed because shots are airballing or missing the rim entirely. He can be a 10/10 in every other skill but never have championship potential as the centerpiece because he’s a 2/10 in shooting. A Simmons/Wood PnR would just be hedged every time because no one fears him taking a wide open outside shot.

With Brown Or Siakam those are not superstars but they are top 30 players, two way players who can be a valuable piece of a 5-out style of basketball that at its peak CAN squeak in a championship if everything breaks our way. It’s how Toronto did it in 2019, or Detroit in 2005, or even the Beautiful Game Spurs did it once Duncan got old and before Kawhi exploded.

give me Brown or Siakam any day of the week.

 

Agreed. He is actually the least appealing prospect out of the four most named prospects