By submitting your email, you agree to our, The Winners and Losers of the James Harden Trade. PICKS TO ROCKETS: Brooklyn's three unprotected first-round draft picks -- 2022, 2024 and 2026 -- in the deal, plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. Nets May 15, 2021 Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. While their 6-3 record is impressive, the Nets defense is clearly a massive issue. Lost second-chance points 21-3. The 3-time scoring champ is headed to Brooklyn in a deal involving Houston and Cleveland. He was a no-show when camp opened and was later fined $50,000 for conduct detrimental to the league after attending an indoor event without a mask in violation of the NBA's health and safety protocols. Hopefully, theyll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game, Vaughn said. Instead of landing in Houston in the Harden trade, LeVert was rerouted to Indiana, where the fit and potential couldnt be more blog-boy perfect. No matter how this season went, Oladipo wasnt long for Indiana. Net-Net Investing: How to Identify Value Stocks | The Motley Fool Harden is averaging 26 points and 11.2 assists per game in a Brooklyn uniform. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. Hes confident in how we play now, coach Doc Rivers said. James Hardens sixth sense: What makes playmaking critical to the Sixers stars game. Denver Toasts the Suns, Plus One Burning Question for Every Series, The Hundred: Presenting Our Best Bets for Nuggets-Suns, Breaking Down Succession Season 4, Episode 6: Living+. Harden became the first player known to ever post a 30-15-10 line without committing a single turnover, though individual turnovers have only been tracked since the 1977-78 season. Both Drummond and McGee will enter unrestricted free agency after this season, while the Cavs will control Allens rights in restricted free agency. NBA After recording his fourth Nets triple-double in a win over the LA Clippers, Harden takes to Twitter to share a photo of Brooklyn's Big Three with the caption "Scary Hours!". The Nets' title odds improved from +550 to +300. In other words, Oklahoma City just improved its odds of gaining another lottery pick for what looks like a stacked 2021 draft class. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onBrooklyn Nets and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Its not like this is a new problem either: Most points allowed in a game this season: 149 Nets to Wizards tonight147 Nets to Cavs pic.twitter.com/UUs6RZPZeX. You cannot simply outshoot every single opponent, and the lack of any real defense is a concern for Brooklyn. the last superstar who begged out of town. The Rockets are just 3-6 so far this season and only Minnesota has a worse record in the Western Conference. Brooklyn expects Harden to leave all that behind him and that his transition to the Nets is smooth. While Harden has played at the level of a league MVPwhich he won in 2018alongside this seasons leading most valuable player candidate, 76ers center Joel Embiid, Simmons has yet to suit up for the Nets, working on his conditioning and mental wellness. Feb. 2, 2022 In a confounding loss to the Kings, Harden scores four points (on 2 of 11 shooting), to go along with 12 assists, seven rebounds and six turnovers in 37 minutes of action. Oct. 13, 2021 The Athletic's Shams Charania says on "The Glue Guys" podcast that the Nets will not be offering Irving an extension. Your email address will not be published. No less than three hours later, Wojnarowski reports the framework of an agreed-upon trade between the Sixers and Nets that sends Harden to Philadelphia and Simmons to Brooklyn. We wish James the best of luck and will always be grateful for the memories.". 2 and sent Harden to Brooklyn. In the bigger picture, though, Allen might make out OK here. ", "On behalf of the entire Rockets organization and the City of Houston, I'd like to thank James Harden for an amazing eight-plus seasons in a Rockets uniform," Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta said in a statement. Jan. 12, 2022 Two nights after a confounding loss to the Trail Blazers, Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for what would be the 16th and final time, as the Nets cruise to an impressive 26-point blowout win against the Bulls. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. It has been a pleasure watching them grow both as players and as people and they will always be part of our Nets family. ET. Obviously, they got better way better, said two-time Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee. Despite missing a number of key players, they managed to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final 2:12 of regulation to force overtime. The Knicks became the first team in the NBA this season to hold an opponent under 80 points and look to take a 3-1 lead in the series on Sunday when they host the Cavaliers for Game 4 at 1 p.m. As for the picks? Wasserman also represented Russell Westbrook and worked closely with the Rockets on his trade to Wizards. Either Philly does some serious damage control, decries the trade talk as gossip, and states that Ben is our guy, and then Simmons actually believes it. It is what it is but [being] here in Philly is an opportunity that Im looking forward to.. The lesson: When a player like Harden requests a trade, hell more or less get what he wants; when a player like Oladipo pushes for one, hell have to settle for whatever he can get. Jan 17, 2022. 2 seed Celtics even though the Not only is 124.6 the worst in the league, but it is actually the worst in NBA history! Once Morey bolted for Philadelphia, Stone immediately felt the weight of player empowerment pressure. The Nets are scheduled to visit the Rockets on March 3 (7:30 p.m. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Bridges kept Game 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort. Bridges scored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in the first half. "Adding an All-NBA player such as James to our roster better positions our team to compete against the league's best," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. Congratulations to Jordan for winning back his job; being a great friend really does pay. Also, Milwaukee's 2022 first-round pick, via Cleveland. Long-shot suitors like the Raptors or Celtics would have needed to take a sledgehammer to their existing cores just to piece together the kind of deal the Rockets might entertain. Harden "We have to implement the phrase 'get used to it,'" Irving said of Harden's brilliance since joining the Nets. Harden does not travel with the team to Washington for a game scheduled for the night of Feb. 10. They held a five-point lead late, only for the Wizards to score six points in a matter of seconds to turn the sure win into a loss. Hardens ineffectiveness around the rim in the first half -- he was 1 of 8 on 2s -- was offset by his 5-of-7 shooting on 3s. The team is clearly in disarray and new arrival John Wall called the situation rocky. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games. The Brooklyn Nets record with and without Kyrie Irving. Competitively speaking, this is a demotion. TO NETS: James Harden (from Rockets), 2024 second-round pick from the Cavaliers, PLAYERS TO ROCKETS: Victor Oladipo (from Pacers), Dante Exum (from Cavs), Rodions Kurucs (from Nets). "Obviously they got better, way better," Antetokounmpo said after recording a triple-double in Milwaukee's victory Wednesday over the Pistons. New York, NY 10027 June 19, 2021 In Game 7, a clearly-hobbledHarden scores 22 points (on 5 of 17 shooting), pulls down nine rebounds and dishes out nine assists in an instant classic. The question is: Did they dangle Simmons so far out in the trade waters that theres no reeling him back in? Harden is ready to take the floor against former teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving; Simmons is gradually preparing for his Nets debut at a yet-to-be publicly stated date. Those most familiar with his game describe his "quarterback" mentality. Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday. The Nets just traded both Durant and Irving in the same week to the Suns and the Mavericks respectively. TEAM GP REC W% MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TPG FGM Trade Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The Nets kept it close in both games, but ultimately, their poor performance in the clutch let them down. The Washington Wizards Absolutely Stole One From the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving acknowledges his embarrassing defensive performance against the Wizards, The Whiteboard: Nets, Rockets both got better in the James Harden trade, Wizards score 6 points in 4 seconds for miraculous comeback vs. Nets (Video). On Jan. 15, 2021, after essentially tanking his way to a trade from Houston, Harden announced he was willing to do whatever it takes to rack up victories and titles with the Nets. The 2020-21 NBA season has already had its share of misfortune, but Wednesday finally brought a pleasant surprise: its first superstar trade. The Houston Rockets have a lot of work to do this summer to improve their roster after finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA, and their first move was LeVert could prove to be the next savvy move. 2022-23 Postseason Brooklyn Nets Stats | ESPN Mahoney: Oladipo pining for a trade only to be sent from one of the best teams in the East to the regrouping Rockets feels like a basketball fable. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? Zach Kram: Jordan began the season as Brooklyns starting center, more for his contract and friendship with the teams stars than a talent advantage over Jarrett Allen. My focus is on the season and winning a championship. Center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince are headed from the Nets to the Cavaliers, while the Rockets receive Cleveland guard Dante Exum and Brooklyn forward Rodions Kurucs. They can certainly do that now. WebNets record since the Harden trade: 14-3 with Harden & Irving 5-2 with the Big 3 4-2 with just Harden 3-3 with just Irving 2-2 with Durant & Irving 2-0 with Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. The Eagles won, the Falcons and Patriots made some interesting decisions (for better or worse), and late-round quarterbacks are coming out of the woodwork. Which teams crushed the draft, and which came up short? The moment itself highlighted the reportedly "weird" chemistry between the two guards and preceded the Nets' seven-point loss at the hand of the Cavs. Contact him eric@brobible.com. Now LeVert can finally take a deep breath. "My first thought: It's good to get James Harden to the East," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. The Nets were the No. The contract and all that stuff will play itself out as it should. pic.twitter.com/Dugwr89CD5. the 2019 Chris PaulforRussell Westbrook swap, Everything You Need to Know About the James Harden Trade. And, assuming the Cavs made this deal with an eye toward the future, he should get paid pretty handsomely to do it. That all-around dominance has been a staple of Harden's since joining the Nets. Irving, Kevin Durant, and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets will look to stave off elimination and the end of their season tonight in Brooklyn with Game 4 against the Celtics set to tip-off at 7 p.m. RELATED: Kyrie Irvings Playoff Record With And Without LeBron James Paints A Brutal Picture, Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isnt quite sure how hes allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. (And when I say someone like Bradley Beal, I mean Bradley Beal). There was no way he could play another game in Houston, and that begs the question of whether the Rockets should have dealt Harden before the season even began. The performance, statistically speaking, was historic. The trade was agreed to after the Rockets opted to keep Harden away from Wednesday's practice, following the former MVP's comments Tuesday that Houston isn't "good enough" to compete for a championship. Its not easy being a small-market team in the player empowerment era, but the Pacers made the necessary proactive move to remain competitive. But it definitely did impact the team because originally me, Kyrie and KD on the court andwinning covers up a lot of that stuff but it was unfortunate that we played 16 games out of whatever it was. It could pick back up again in Brooklyn, where Nashs assistant running the offense is Mike DAntoni, Hardens coach during his best seasons in Houston. He wont immediately walk into 35 minutes a night on a Cavs roster that already features Andre Drummond and JaVale McGee in the middle, but that timeshare should be temporary. He made 10 of 16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, who opened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championship aspirations, within nine at halftime. Now, if you look at Kyries contributions from a strictly statistical perspective, then perhaps you could make a case that the Nets precipitous drop in form is unrelated to his return. All 259 picks are in. And it's good to balance it out.". Theres a reason phrases like it factor and clutch gene are staples of sporting lexicon. D'Antoni didn't return after last season, and it quickly became clear Harden wanted out too. The Athletics Shams Charania breaks down the reported blockbuster trade. He should be much happier in Brooklyn, having teamed with Durant in Oklahoma City when they were younger and remaining close still. The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. The process was unseemly, but like Anthony Davis before him, Harden ultimately got what he wanted. But thats the least of my worries. June 15, 2021 In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Irving goes down with an ankle sprain that would ultimately hold him out of the remainder of the series. James Harden trade grades: Rockets send ", - Dennis Walcott, former New York City Department of Education Chancellor and former President and CEO of the New York Urban League, When the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers made an NBA trade deadline deal that sent Nets guard James Harden to the Sixers for forward Ben Simmons with other pieces involved, one of the first questions basketball fans asked was when do the two teams face each other?. Feb. 4, 2022 Harden is sidelined with a hamstring issue, his first of three consecutive absences from the Nets as trade rumors loom. The Nets are not going to be low on wing depth at all moving forward. Harden Trade It has put Harden, almost unthinkably, back into the MVP conversation. Brooklyn also gets a 2024 second-round pick from the Cavaliers. Harden had all the right moves against the Nets. His average so far this season ranked 18th in the NBA, well off his usual pace. First-year Rockets head coach Stephen Silas called the drama surrounding Harden an "all-around messed up situation. The Rockets are 3-6 -- only Minnesota has a worse record in the Western Conference -- and Houston guard John Wall called the situation "rocky," while fellow newcomer DeMarcus Cousins said before Wednesday's trade that Harden's antics were "disrespectful" to his teammates. From NBA.com News Cookie Notice Our groups done a really good job being unselfish this year and trying to move the ball and work together so Ive been proud of that.. 76ers: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rang the ceremonial bell. No worries for the Sixers, though. Its a simple game but it becomes complicated when you put different personalities and players on the floor, Nash said. The James Harden trade, of course, is a factor, but theres been speculation that Harden wanted the trade because of Kyries behavior, anyway. As anyone can see, the defense is a joke, and as it turns out, is on pace to be historically bad. The 2018 MVP put on an absolute clinic against San Antonio, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists and grabbing 14 rebounds in the victory. It's the team's first sweep in a best-of-seven series since they knocked out the Bucks in the conference semifinals in 1985, Barkley's rookie year. James Harden makes history in Nets' win over Spurs, notches The Nets were ready to swoop in, after a shaky defense during the early season proved their best chance to beat teams might be to outscore them. For more information, please see our That is mind-blowing and shows they can score at will. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Irving is the perpetual wild card. Off to a 7-6 start in his rookie season, now the former point guard and two-time league MVP Nash will have to mold an offense that keeps the ball moving with three players worthy of having it in their hands. Kevin Durant has missed 11 of Brooklyn's last 12 games, but despite a rocky start, the Nets have now won nine of their past 10 with Harden at the helm. Dont get me wrong: Houston still got an impressive haul, but its difficult to peg the Rockets as winners in this. The Nets have three open roster spots to fill out their bench, if they choose -- a $5.7 million tax midlevel, the minimum exception and likely a $5.7 million disabled player exception. Since then, the team has gone 5-3 and has only held an opponent under 115 points on one occasion. And the fact of the matter is that, for whatever reason, the Nets season flipped with the return of Irving. 2340 Frederick Douglass Blvd. March 10, 2022 The 76ers are scheduled to host the Nets for the first time since the blockbuster trade. Houston should be reasonably competitive after reorienting its roster, but the heart of an undersized team remains. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Here are our grades for all 32 squads. James Harden did not play, but his team still managed to score 146 points. Its most recent earnings report at 6 in win shares. Houston also receives three unprotected first-round picks from Brooklyn -- in 2022, 2024 and 2026 -- plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027, the Nets announced. Did Sixers or Nets win the Ben Simmons and James Harden trade? Jan. 5, 2022 After missing the first 35 games of the season, Irving makes his season debut against the Pacers, playing alongside Durant and Harden for the first time in exactly seven months. 11 and No. So, I can't wait to be right alongside of him, my name in Nets history -- and all the guys on our team where we're just breaking records as a team, and then individually we're stacking up with some of the best to ever play.". They may have lost the game there, but in all likelihood, would have won it in regulation were it not for the heroics of James Harden. The James Harden trade, of course, is a factor, but Harden refused to sign the three-year, $161 million contract extension this past summer, and has reportedly been disgruntled over the course of the season. It was obvious the end was nearing Wednesday, when the Rockets told him they didnt want him at practice after his inflammatory comments about the team. https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1384633523588386830?s=21. Harden Known primarily for his exploits in isolation, Harden has adjusted to suit the needs of his new team by sacrificing his own scoring for the sake of his teammates. He also tied Reggie Miller for third on the NBAs all-time three-pointers made list with 2,560. Now Sixers shot-callers Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will have to plot a course forward. NBA I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. As the former MVP slid to the Team LeBron in the last pick of the draft, it became clear that Durant consciously made the decision not to select his former teammate. Harden made his Nets debut on Jan. 16. Harden, 32, who forced a trade from the Houston Rockets to the Nets in January of 2021, wanted out of Brooklyn a year later. WebSince the Harden trade, the Nets are allowing 124.6 points per game, the worst DRtg of any team in the league from any year in history. Harden, who topped the league in assists this season, picked up the slack and stuck it to the Nets with his step-back 3s. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports. Per multiple reports, the Pacers would acquire LeVert and a future second-round pick from the Rockets in exchange for All-Star guard Victor Oladipo. Last year, even when he was playing, it was, am I doing the right thing here?. James Harden left Mondays 114-112 win over the Knicks with right hamstring tightness after having missed the previous two games with the same injury. 10 pick in the 2018 draft. Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. Nets Record When James Harden Plays | StatMuse Harden wasnt just a superstar, but a one-man hierarchy. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. It feels good to make some shots, Bridges said. Stephen A.: After Harden trade, it's 'Finals or bust' for the Nets (3:07) Stephen A. Smith reacts to the breaking news that James Harden has been traded to Any team that traded for Harden would leave itself vulnerable. The Nets were previously the favorites to win the title and were the Easts #2 seed prior to the All-Star break. This is what it might look like if the franchise center has space to work. What happened in the next 24 hours will take many days to unpack and clean up. His average so far this season ranked 18th in the NBA, well off his usual pace. On Monday, he played his fifth game with the 76ers, a 121-106 win against the Chicago Bulls to improve the Sixers record to 40-24, second best in the East. Oladipo will find worthwhile collaborators in John Wall and head coach Stephen Silas, pick-and-roll partners in Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins, and a team that needs his ballhandling in order to properly function. In total, for James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets got 7 first-round picks (22 PHI, 23 PHX, 25 PHX, 27 PHI, 27 PHX, 29 DAL, 29 PHX) plus a pick swap (28 PHX). At the time of Kyries return on January 5, the Nets were the Easts second seed with a record of 24-12 (winning percentage of 66%). Nash revealed that Simmons has had a back issue that he described as a little flare-up. The 25-year-old No. Hes older at 26 years old, but he also is developing into a legitimate shot creator and is already a very good defender. Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn as he had this season to become an MVP finalist. Feb. 13, 2021 In a win over the Warriors, Durant tweaks his left hamstring, an injury that would ultimately hold him out for seven weeks and 22 games. James Harden averaged 29.6 points over his 621 regular season games with Houston. But should any of these teams falter over the next few years which feels like a good bet considering what just happened to the Nets things could shake out extremely well for Brooklyn. The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, as part of a package for https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/kevin-durant-trade-nets-return-harden-kyrie, Seven first round picks and a pick swap with Phoenix, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. But when you introduce an All-World talent like Kyrie Irving into your alchemy, its going to change your solar systems gravity. James Hardens sixth sense: What makes playmaking critical to the Sixers stars game. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The James Harden trade, one year later: Looking back at 10 Lets break down all the ripple effects from the seasons first eye-popping move. Harden used every move in the disgruntled superstar handbook, from delaying his training camp arrival to going on a very public gentlemans club world tour to sandbagging teammates and his new head coach to showing up out of shape to then somehow remaining out of shape despite playing a professional sport. Jan. 15, 2022 Durant suffers an MCL sprain in his left knee that will sideline him for the next four-to-six weeks. TRADE GRADES:Did Sixers or Nets win the Ben Simmons and James Harden trade? Dan Devine: At first blush, this seems like it kind of sucks for Allen. A first-round sweep would mark a pitiful end to a wildly disappointing season. How have the Nets and Rockets fared post-Harden It has been noted that Rockets have the best defensive rating while the Nets have the worst defensive rating before tonight's games. Sept. 29, 2021 Per the same guidelines, it's determined that Irving will not be able to participate in Nets home games as long as he was unvaccinated for COVID-19.