John Granato: Raptors & Celtics favorites to land James Harden

If we somehow get Jamal Murray on this team...I will be over the ****ing moon!

 

Who is the real Murray? The guy in the regular season that was disappointing and wasn’t especially good offensively and was terrible defensively... or the Murray we saw in the playoffs that still didn’t defend anyone but exploded offensively? I am asking because if it is the regular season guy, I want no part of him. Michael Porter Jr. is a very promising young player and I like him a lot, even with a bad back... but I don’t think both are available for Harden.

 

Nook, I know you saw that level he had in the playoffs. It was some insane offense basketball. It was next level.

 

If they aren't both available, then I don't see the Nuggets being able to make a competitive offer.

 

James Harden was better than Murray in the playoffs. Murray was defensively getting crushed, but offensively he had a great post season; just not as good as Harden.

 

It was, the question was whether it carries through going forward.

 

Murray > Simmons, 2 years younger and already scoring better

 

The kid is 23. He was a peer of the elites in the league this post season. We keep talking about equal value. Sure, nothing would be equal value, but with Murray we are in the ballpark!

 

He is so overrated from his little bubble performance.

 

Murray undoubtedly fits this Rockets team better than Simmons.

 

I agree with you but if we have no harden then we have no system and at that point you might as well get the most talent to build your new system

 

I understand, I am just saying it all depends if you think the regular season Murray or the playoff Murray is the real one because they were drastically different.

You make a good point on Murray’s age.

 

He doesn’t defensively at all... but he does offensively.

 

Murray is much, much better than Simmons. The question is how many draft picks they're willing to part with I suspect, and when the trade can get executed. From what I've read online, the Nuggets want to move Millsap and would have to find a third team in order to do so. Also, because of Millsap, the deal would have to wait till February 3rd, which I suspect is part of the complication (Harden seems checked out, at least emotionally and mentally).

Assuming the reports are somewhat true, this trade will include Harden and Tucker. Denver as a trade partner would give back Murray, picks, move Millsap to a third team which would also return a pick to us of some sort (I would be very, very surprised if anyone would be willing to give up a first for him, though he is an expiring contract), and some other player I have yet to figure out. I doubt that player is MPJ, it might be from the third team in this hypothetical scenario.

 

Just gotta score more to win.

 

Doesn't look like this trade is happening any time soon anyway.

 

Top players to get back for Harden realistic plus picks of course -
1. Ingram
2. Murray
3. Simmons

Brown and Smart from Boston does not excite me we need a young legitimate player to develop that has ceiling! We can’t get Ingram until Feb; so I have read. Not much else out there...

 

I have a certain comfort level with Murray and MPJ that I don’t have with Simmons and the rest.

I just think the ability to shoot isn’t an optional skill for a non-center in todays game. Giannis himself has struggled in the playoffs, and I don’t see Simmons as his equal.

Plus I’m really intrigued by an MPJ/Wood front court.

 

Me too but we need playmaking guards! If Wall goes down we are screwed!

 

Do not trade Harden!

Trade to improve roster around Harden-Wood instead.

Make the team better, not worse. What a novel concept amirite?