On the heels of a disappointing post-season, all does not appear to be well in Houston.
James Harden, the team’s franchise corner stone, reportedly wants to play for a contender elsewhere, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Harden’s preferred destinations are believed to be the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, Charania noted.
Charania’s reporting corroborates an earlier story from the Houston Chronicle, which indicated Harden wanted to move on and was trying to force his way via trade to the Nets.
Harden’s desire to leave Houston crystallized further by Monday evening, when Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the 31-year-old superstar turned down a chance to become the first $50 million a year player in league history. The Rockets had reportedly made a pitch for Harden to sign the maximum extension allowable under the CBA, worth $103 million over two years. That sum would be in addition to the remaining three years worth $133 million on his current deal.
But Harden turned down the offer because, per Wojnarowski, he believes Houston’s championship window has closed and constructing a superteam with the Nets is his best pathway to achieving his title dreams.
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Brooklyn first emerged as a team Harden had his eyes on last night, when Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that the Nets had risen to the top of his list as a possible trade destination. The idea of reuniting with Kevin Durant — who Harden started his career alongside with the Oklahoma City Thunder — and joining Kyrie Irving resonated with Houston’s superstar, Wojnarowski reported.
Houston and Brooklyn have since been in contact, according to Wojnarowski, but have not engaged in meaningful dialogue.
Harden’s desire to play elsewhere comes shortly after reports surfaced that his Rockets co-star, Russell Westbrook, “wants out” of Houston as well.
Last off-season, the Rockets acquired Westbrook to pair with Harden — sending Chris Paul to the Thunder, as well as their 2024 and 2026 first-round picks, and the rights for the Thunder to swap top-10-protected picks with them in 2021 and 2025.
But Houston failed to make a dent in the playoffs, bowing out in five games to the eventual-champion Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, as Westbrook fought to shake off rust and injury after returning from a strained right quadriceps. Since then the Rockets parted ways with head coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey, a pair of moves that reportedly led Harden and Westrbook to question the direction the team was taking.
The Rockets have been actively searching for trade partners, Wojnarowski has reported, but that marketplace is proving relatively barren.
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Westbrook, who was named league MVP in 2017, is owed $131.5 million over the next three seasons and holds a $46.7 million-player option in 2022-23, drastically limiting the field of available suitors for the polarizing all-star as the COVID-19 pandemic has left teams league-wide facing fiscal uncertainty.
The challenge in moving Harden would likely have far less to do with the money he is owed, and far more to do with finding an acceptable return on his once-in-a-generation talent.
Brooklyn has multiple assets that could be included in a hypothetical move. The team possesses all of its future first-round picks, the 19th overall selection in this year’s draft and intriguing players with varying degrees of upside like Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. However, Wojnarowski noted on Monday evening that there’s no indication Houston believes those assets add up to what the team is seeking.
Philadelphia’s simplest path to acquiring Harden would likely start with parting ways with its own superstar creator, Ben Simmons.
Houston is, of course, under no obligation to accommodate Harden’s preference to play in Brooklyn or Philadelphia. The 31-year-old has three years remaining on a maximum contract that owes him $131.5 million still — including a $46.9 million player option in 2022-23 — giving the Rockets more leverage than if he were on an expiring contract and able to threaten to leave in free agency.
To that end, a trade appears to be far from imminent and one can look to this year’s Hall of Fame inductees for instances of generational talents who — at the very least — considered moving on when they weren’t satisfied with the direction of their teams, only to stay in place.
A year after winning the 1999 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs and their aging core wilted in the first round against the Phoenix Suns. That off-season, Tim Duncan nearly signed with the Orlando Magic to form a superteam with Grant Hill and Tracey McGrady. Duncan wound up staying and winning four more championships with San Antonio.
Kobe Bryant, whose very name conjures the image of Lakers purple and gold, nearly forced his way off of the Los Angeles Lakers more than once. In 2007, after back-to-back first-round exits, Bryant reportedly demanded a trade to the Detroit Pistons. Three years prior, with the end of the Shaq-Kobe era looming, Bryant was so close to joining the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal that he told The Chicago Times he was “looking at houses.” He stayed both times, of course, and went on to win back-to-back titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
Harden may be on his way out. Or, this dissatisfaction may prove to be a wake-up call for the franchise that reinforces how critical its next moves are. In either case, his situation is far from the only one making waves throughout the NBA.
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Paul is going to Phoenix — a team that could have been in on VanVleet
On Monday, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns were reportedly finalizing a trade that would send Chris Paul to Phoenix.
By itself the move shakes up the Western Conference playoff picture. Despite now being 35, Paul remains one of the top point guards in the NBA. Last season in 70 games with the Thunder, he averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 49 per cent from the field. For his effort, he was named to the All-NBA second team.
The Suns were already knocking on the post-season door, as evidenced by their 8-0 run in the Orlando Bubble, and pairing Paul with incumbent star Devin Booker may push them over the top. As noted by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a logical next step for the Suns in using their remaining cap space would be to focus on their own free agents: Dario Saric and Aaron Baynes.
But the reported deal impacts the Eastern Conference, too.
Phoenix was thought to be one of the teams that would pursue Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet in free agency. In acquiring Paul, they appear to have both spent the cap room that could have gone towards signing VanVleet and addressed the need to find a steady co-star for Booker.
That leaves the list of reported suitors for VanVleet as being the Raptors, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks.
The Knicks, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, will be relying on either free agency or the trade market to find their 2020-21 starting point guard. If New York turns down all of its team options for next season, they will only have $65 million on their books — leaving them $44 million under the cap.
Doing so would give them more money to potentially offer VanVleet than either the Pistons or Raptors if they decided to. The Knicks have also been linked to Westbrook, though, who would consume the majority of that available cap space.
“I’m trying to get paid, man,” VanVleet said when asked about the topic recently on The Old Man & the Three, a podcast hosted by New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick and Tommy Alter. “I’m not shy about that. I don’t have to tell people that I value winning. Just look at my story, do your research. I’ve never been on a losing team in my entire life. That’s what I’m about. And that’s just what it is. I won a championship and now it’s time to cash out.”
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Lavine could be had via trade
Though there are no reports that he is actively be shopped, there is a belief among NBA teams that Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine could be acquired via trade, according to Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated.
The possibility of moving LaVine is connected to the Bulls’ willingness to draft LaMelo Ball if he falls to them with the fourth overall pick in Wednesday’s draft, however Ball is widely expected to be drafted in the top three — and potentially as high as No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
LaVine has spent the last three seasons in Chicago after being the centerpiece of Minnesota’s trade for Jimmy Butler, averaging 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists last year while shooting 38 per cent from three.
Rondo is done with LA and Bradley may be, too
After winning a championship with them this summer, Rajon Rondo appears to be moving on from the Los Angeles Lakers.
The point guard reportedly declined his $2.62-million player option for next season, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Turner went on to note that the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks were likely candidates to pursue Rondo’s services in free agency.
He may not be the only member of the Lakers headed elsewhere this off-season, either. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Avery Bradley is expected to be courted by several contenders including the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.
A pair of Nuggets enter free agency
After a post-season run that saw them nearly claw their way into the NBA Finals, a pair of Denver Nuggets have decided to become free agents.
Jerami Grant is reportedly declining his $9.3-million player option for next season, Haynes reported on Monday. Over the last two seasons, Grant — whose calling card has been his defence — emerged as a reliable floor-spacer as well, connecting on at least 38 per cent of his long-range attempts.
Grant’s preference is believed to be signing a long-term deal with the Nuggets, according to The Denver Post. That desire appears to be mutual as head coach Michael Malone has called him a “big part” of the team’s future.
Other teams are expected to make him an offer, though. The Miami Heat, Pistons and Suns have all been expected to show interest in his services, according to The Miami Herald.
Joining Grant in the open market will be Paul Millsap, who is expected to draw interest from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to O’Connor.
Millsap is well-removed from his prime years, when he was a four-time All-Star as a member of the Hawks. But at 36, he still figures to offer a blend of leadership, defence and shooting that could prove valuable to Portland in its fight for the post-season.
Hayward hasn’t made a decision on future yet
Nothing has quite gone according to plan for Gordon Hayward since joining the Boston Celtics.
His tenure started with a horrifying leg injury that required multiple surgeries, and after making his return the following year, suffered a fractured left hand early in the season.
Now, his time with Boston may be ending altogether.
Hayward has reportedly not yet decided whether he will opt into his $34.1-million player option yet, according to Celtics reporter Mark Murphy. Hayward has until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to reach a decision.
“Gordon Hayward, who obviously — there’s already been rumours we’ve heard about maybe him wanting to move on. The Knicks are interested, I’ve heard,” O’Connor said on The Ringer’s Mismatch podcast. “I’ve heard Hayward does want out, but I don’t know if he’s gonna get the money. He’s not opting out of that huge number unless he knows he’s getting the deal.”
The Bulls are done with Dunn
The Chicago Bulls do not plan to issue a qualifying offer to Kris Dunn, with the Clippers being among the teams expected to show interest once he becomes a free agent, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Dunn, whose main impact comes on the defensive end, averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for the Bulls last season.
Electing not to qualify him adds fuel to the speculative fires that Chicago is targeting a playmaker in the upcoming draft. However, the Bulls have also been exploring trades for an experienced point guard, O’Connor reported, though no specific names have emerged at this time.
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