According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, a James Harden trade is imminent. The question is, where is he going? The All-Star has been making his unhappiness with the Houston organization clear this season. Russell Westbrook was traded to Washington for John Wall and other assets before the season began. Even with this move, Harden was not content with staying.
The Rockets are sifting through finalists — Nets and 76ers — for a James Harden deal that could culminate quickly, with Brooklyn preparing an offer of all its future first-round picks and pick swaps, per sources.
Story on @TheAthletic with @sam_amick: https://t.co/tTYIRVG8Xg
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2021
So far this season, through nine games, the Rockets are 3-6. Their latest loss came to the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden has averaged a team-leading 24.8 points and 10.4 assists per game. Wall and DeMarcus Cousins spoke about their shooting guard’s attitude this season. Cousins said:
“Obviously, it’s disrespectful…We feel some type of way about some of his actions.”
Cousins went on to say that his interest in playing in Houston had to do with Wall and not Harden’s presence on the team. For the Rockets to get a deal for Harden the 76ers and Nets to need to come up with $33M in salary. The 76ers and Nets will need to include a healthy dose of picks in any trade package. The Nets have the advantage and can send more first-round picks than the 76ers can. It is clear that Philly and Brooklyn are wanting to find a package to take their already contender level teams to new levels.
Harden had expressed before the season started his wish to be traded. Now that the writing is clearly on the wall, it seems a deal is just around the corner with one of two franchises.
