2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics, Lowe: Answering the massive questions driving this James Harden trade, James Harden trade grades: Winners, losers in this stunning deal, Cousins rips Harden for 'disrespectful' antics, comments Tuesday that Houston isn't "good enough", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We examine all the ripple effects from Wednesdays four-team blockbuster deal. During this time, Brooklyn's losing streak balloons from six to nine straight games. 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. Feb. 15, 2022 When being introduced as a Sixer,Harden saysthat Philadelphia has been his preferred destination since first seeking out of Houston. Harden hired Jason Ranne and Chafie Fields from Wasserman, and they worked closely with the Rockets and all teams involved to secure the trade for him, sources told ESPN. At 10:45 a.m. Sure, Houston did get Victor Oladipo from Indiana in exchange for Caris LeVert, but it appears that Stone wanted to cash out of the Harden experience by investing in the future, not the present. Theres no doubt that there will be immediate positives that come from Hardens subtraction, not to mention a lot less stress for sleepless Stephen Silas. The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The silver lining for Oladipo comes in the void Harden leaves behind. Then came a pair of embarrassments in rapid succession: Bridges celebrated on draft night with his mom, who worked at the time for the 76ers. 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. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The Winners and Losers of the James Harden Trade. Jan. 14, 2021 After weeks of friction in Houston and a trade request, Harden is traded from the Rockets to the Nets as part of a four-team trade. After a hot start defensively, the Nets have given up 113.2 points per 100 possessions in their past eight games, ranking 25th in the league in that span. Last time he landed two All-Stars for the price of one in Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Thats a bummer, no matter how you spin it. Allen finishes damn near everything he gets his hands on at the rim; hes averaging 1.41 points per possession finished as the roll man in the two-man game, fourth best among players who have finished at least 25 such plays this season, according to Synergy Sports. His contributions might not matter as much as they would have on a sure playoff team like the Pacers, but a good showing this season could still be enough to get him paid. Welp. I literally have done everything that I can, Harden said Tuesday night. They have to start over without a single All-Star on the roster. "But, at the end of the day, we've got to focus on ourselves. March 10, 2022 The 76ers are scheduled to host the Nets for the first time since the blockbuster trade. Cookie Notice 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. At this point, hes more of a project. Were just not good enough I love this city. Justin Verrier: Harden was righthe did do everything he could. Thats a departure from his predecessors usual line of thinking. Once Morey bolted for Philadelphia, Stone immediately felt the weight of player empowerment pressure. His name has been dangled in every possible Nets trade, and his own teammate (Irving) more or less implied he (and the rest of the Nets roster) wasnt good enough to get the job done. Stephen A. Smith reacts to the breaking news that James Harden has been traded to the Nets in a four-team blockbuster deal. 33. Phone: 212-932-7400, The Nets and 76ers finally meet since the Harden for Simmons trade, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). The Nets are thriving as a result, and when Durant returns, they will be able to make a run at the title of best offense in NBA history. Bridges helped the Wildcats win two national championship -- the 2016 and 2018 national championship banners hang in the Wells Fargo Center rafters. (Whether the tax-minded Rockets will be interested in doing so remains to be seen.). Allen will get more shots and more chances to stretch his game offensively on the Cavs than he ever would have as the fifth option in Brooklyn. 'Irrational confidence', Stars pay tribute to Stephen Curry after 50-point NBA playoff game, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? ET. Its most recent earnings report at In other words, Oklahoma City just improved its odds of gaining another lottery pick for what looks like a stacked 2021 draft class. Scoring 146 points and losing is almost unheard of for any team. The megadeal reunites Harden with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant in Brooklyn and positions the Nets, who also have All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, as title contenders in the Eastern Conference. "James is one of the most prolific scorers and playmakers in our game, and we are thrilled to bring his special talents to Brooklyn. If the front office could live with giving up every pick and swap it had on offer, the Nets could stay in the running and potentially outbid a Sixers package built around Ben Simmons on volume alone. Brooklyn Nets timeline: What went wrong leading to trade and breakup of James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. 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. Despite being without Irving, Durant nearly wills the Nets to victory with 48 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but his toe was on the line for a potential game-winner and the Bucks would prevail in overtime. Durant is averaging 29.9 points in his first season back from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Irving was scoring 27.1 per game before leaving the team last week. The Nets were previously the favorites to win the title and were the Easts #2 seed prior to the All-Star break. The superstar era is over in Brooklyn. MORE:Kevin Durant hilariously refuses to select former teammate James Harden, Feb. 12, 2022 Durant speaks to the media prior to the Nets game in Miami, saying"James doesn't have to explain anything to anybody," adding that "he's his own man. ESPN's Malika Andrews and The Associated Press contributed to this report. On paper, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden had a very productive first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. 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!". 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. It helps that The Beard knows his role alongside Joel Embiid, has his health and his signature step-back is back on point from beyond the arc. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. WebThe Rockets have won 6 straight and officially have a better record than the Nets since the Harden trade. The real concern comes in games like this most recent loss to the Wizards and the back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in January. The Athletics Shams Charania breaks down the reported blockbuster trade. 2 and sent Harden to Brooklyn. I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. I mean, this situation is crazy. Mikal Bridges was a legitimate 3-and-D Defensive Player of the Year candidate in the 2021-22 season. 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. The Brooklyn Nets are on the verge of being swept by the Boston Celtics. Across the four games against Brooklyn, Harden shot just 9-for-34 on 2-point shots. And, assuming the Cavs made this deal with an eye toward the future, he should get paid pretty handsomely to do it. The blockbuster trade sending James Harden to Philadelphia in return for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks is official. 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 League sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne that the Rockets will trade LeVert to the Indiana Pacers for Victor Oladipo. The Brooklyn Nets record with and without Kyrie Irving. Now LeVert can finally take a deep breath. The Kings had no answer for Steph, who dropped 50 in a record-breaking Game 7 outburst to propel Golden State to a tantalizing second-round matchup against the Lakers. 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. All 259 picks are in. "And they're really a powerhouse right now in the East having KD, James Harden, Kyrie Irving together on one team. Irving was scoring 27.1 per game before leaving the team last week for personal reasons. Which teams crushed the draft, and which came up short? Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports. The performance, statistically speaking, was historic. OFFICIAL: The Brooklyn Nets have acquired six-time All-NBA first teamer and eight-time NBA All-Star James Harden.https://t.co/tkh5dCKi5F, Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 14, 2021, Sources: Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets via @ESPN App https://t.co/oRRwHi2JBv, Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021. Tonight is the answer. Breaking down the trade with stats, film and analysis on Brooklyn, Houston, Cleveland and Indiana. The Rockets also receive guard Dante Exum and a 2022 first round draft pick from Cleveland (via Milwaukee), and Brooklyn acquires a 2024 second round draft pick from the Cavaliers to complete the deal. My focus is on the season and winning a championship. Thats more than Despite roundly outproducing Jordan individually this season, and despite the Nets blitzing opponents by 12.1 points per 100 possessions in Allens minutes, the ascendant 22-year-old winds up moving from a team with championship aspirations to one more likely to contend for a top draft picknow and perhaps for the near future. Following the deal, NBA commissioner Adam Silver had this to say of what led to the trade: "I accept that there will always be conversations behind closed doors, when teams are unhappy, or players are unhappy, [but] the last thing you want to see is for these issues to play out publicly. Harden, who had joined the Rockets after training camp began, is averaging 24.8 points this season after three straight seasons above 30. 3-seeded 76ers host Game 2 on Monday. 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. This is how you build back up from a loss. Nets: Took 70 shots compared to 89 for the 76ers. Its not easy being a small-market team in the player empowerment era, but the Pacers made the necessary proactive move to remain competitive. In a statement released by the Rockets, team owner Tillman Fertitta said: On behalf of the entire Rockets organization and the City of Houston, Id like to thank James Harden for an amazing eight-plus seasons in a Rockets uniform. Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn as he had this season to become an MVP finalist. Will the Harden-Irving-Durant combo work in Brooklyn? "Obviously they got better, way better," Antetokounmpo said after recording a triple-double in Milwaukee's victory Wednesday over the Pistons. The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. James Harden makes history in Nets' win over Spurs, notches seventh triple-double since trade to Brooklyn Harden is the first player to record at least 30 points, 15 Kram: As if the Thunder didnt have enough draft capital piled up over the next seven years! Hopefully, theyll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game, Vaughn said. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. The Brooklyn Nets are on pace for some record-breaking numbers following the acquisition of James Harden. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games. We already have evidence of that so far as the Nets are 13-9 so far this season. I didnt appreciate the conversation., More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports, Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris (12) shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie (26) in the second half during Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs, Saturday, April 15, 2023, in Philadelphia. James Harden's 2s. If the Nets go on to win the title, Allens near-miss will sting. The process was unseemly, but like Anthony Davis before him, Harden ultimately got what he wanted. 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. [ April 23, 2023 ] How Nikola Jokics Nuggets Took 3-0 Lead Over Timberwolves Denver Nuggets [ April 22, 2023 ] How Jalen Brunsons Knicks Made Light Work Of Cavs In Game 3 Cavaliers News [ April 22, 2023 ] How Trae Youngs Hawks Bounced Back vs. Celtics In Game 3 Atlanta Hawks [ April 22, 2023 ] Grizzlies Land The Nets are not going to be low on wing depth at all moving forward. In the bigger picture, though, Allen might make out OK here. That was in a 98-85 victory over the Miami Heat two days after the Heat dropped 124 points on the Nets. Please enter a valid email and try again. James Harden averaged 29.6 points over his 621 regular season games with Houston. Harden's passing ability served as the center of an arsenal that made him an All-American, All-Star and MVP. Hes older at 26 years old, but he also is developing into a legitimate shot creator and is already a very good defender. The Brooklyn Nets suffered a shocking loss Sunday night against the Washington Wizards. Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. 6 in win shares. The No. Chris Ryan: Nobody who watched Ben Simmonss Tuesday night performance against the Heat would have been surprised if it had been his last game as a member of the Sixers. The depleted San Antonio Spurs gave the Brooklyn Nets all they could handle on Monday. The formula of scoring at will can work in the regular season. The fine results from Brooks failure to participate in team postgame media availability during the first round. D'Antoni didn't return after last season, and it quickly became clear Harden wanted out too. 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. Pritchard realized this, as he correctly realized the situation with Paul George had grown untenable, and once again made a move before everyone was expecting one. But Id rather miss shots and win. and our Now Sixers shot-callers Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will have to plot a course forward. the Nets season flipped with the return of Irving. Any of Brooklyns three stars could opt for free agency in 2022, and in the process, change the math on this entire proposition. Their last common opponent were the Thunder who the Nets beat by 22 and the Rockets beat by 30. pic.twitter.com/kcrSTts9GE, Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 14, 2021. https://twitter.com/statmuse/status/1384633523588386830?s=21. Feb. 2, 2021 Harden hits the ground running in Brooklyn, averaging 24.1 points, 12.0 assists and 8.2 rebounds through his first nine games with his new team. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Steve Nash Applauds Nets for Win Over Jazz. Sunday marked a year since James Harden s debut as a Brooklyn Net when he posted a triple-double against the Orlando Magic to signal the They can certainly do that now. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The 3-time scoring champ is headed to Brooklyn in a deal involving Houston and Cleveland. "One of the things that I continue to do in my role is to think about ways we can improve the system.. The Nets just The Ewing Theory tries to explain how and why teams sometimes seem to improve when they lose their star player. Potentially swapping with the Rockets in 2021 shouldnt be a problem.
