Yup. That’s why i kept saying the absolute priority in a harden deal was to add as little on court talent as possible. Hell no to simmons, no thanks to jarret allen. The ability to draft green is worth FAR more then any veterans we could’ve gotten. Had Houston lost that 2021 pick to okc, the rebuild would be a disaster. As of now, the trade was an A+
One more year of tanking or top 5 pick and this trade doesn’t even matter anymore. I don’t even care, Harden is long gone and the wound has healed.
Right now the trade stands as Eason 2023 Bucks pick 2024 and 2026 Nets picks 2025 and 2027 swaps. Im fine with how it has gone.
The Nets kicked the can down the road because as of now, Kevin Durant's contract is untradeable. He has a 4 years contract, and for a player of his caliber and age, there are no teams available that can possibly provide the right assets to acquire him and still remain competitive. However, keeping him for another year at least gives the Nets one last shot at a title. His value would also naturally "depreciate" since he would be 35, with a shorter contract, making him easier to trade than before. This is honestly a more preferable situation, because the Rockets only own a swap this season (which likely isn't going to be useful anyways because with/without Durant, Rockets will likely be worse than the Nets). Kevin Durant's value will only continue to decrease, so frankly speaking, the Nets keeping Durant for one more year could actually be even better for the Rockets. Especially since the implications of the Nets not winning again is going to create an even bigger shitstorm than what it already is, and the Nets will have lower trade returns dealing Durant.
There is one reason why i would want James back on the team and one reason only. With him we would be able to play each team one of two ways. Harden or Eason.
James is a polarizing guy, but for me he is easily my 2nd favorite Rocket player ever. So for his Bday lets take a stroll down memory lane!
Some fond memories of those battles with GSW. Durant will always be a snake and is still looking for the easy road. Nobody will give up their future and a young star player for someone like that. He is a diva. He could ask out next season if things don’t go his way and poof your future is destroyed. Contract means nothing to him.
Harden went into "shutdown mode" and basically quit playing or trying for us. We had no choice but to trade him. Keep in mind we also cleared salary room when we traded him, which will become valuable starting next season.
Irrelevant as the Rockets do not own the Brooklyn pick this year - Utah does, the Rockets own it beginning next year thru 2027 and all unprotected. Father time is undefeated, Kyrie is still nucking futz and KD is still a fragile b!tch ..... patience.
