James Harden Trading Another Massive Gamble For Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have the latest NBA Big Three: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

Or is it?

“I mean, there should be three guys,” said one league source with a laugh, referring to Irving, who has been an MBM.

It’s a familiar gamble for Brooklyn – one that could end in a title parade down Flatbush Ave. or suspend the franchise and rebuild another five years.

Harden wanted to be traded to the Nets – so badly that he refused a $ 103 million extension with Houston during the offseason and finally made his way out after taking a national party tour and finally -make his requests publicly. He got his wish Wednesday in a full-time block trade that quickly became the No. 1 story in sports.

Brooklyn shook their roster to get Harden, putting Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince, Rodions Kurucs and a whopping seven in the first round in the future – including a swap – away in a four-way deal with the Rockets, Cavaliers and Pacers.

Culture Nets are now Talent and Ego Nets. Yes, it’s a new system, but Brooklyn is getting into it again. And it’s really competition or bodybuilding in the Durant-Irving-Harden Age. Similar, in many ways, to the Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce campaign in 2013.

“They did it again,” said the source. “But these people are younger and have a lot more gas in the tank. It’s a huge amount. It is a heckuva contract. With permission, you have every choice and a rookie coach. ”

Maybe Steve Nash should call his good friend and fellow Hall of Fame point guard, Jason Kidd, and ask for advice.

This move now seems to be, worrying later, boiling down to two features: 1. Durant looks like a major player in the league – if not higher – after losing 18 months with Achilles tears and hoping to lock up even further and 2. Irving goes AWOL. KD had always wanted his close friend Harden – remember, the two talked about playing together while working outdoors in Los Angeles, and that was 100 percent true. But it’s worth wondering if Harden would be a member of the 76ers right now if there weren’t so much chaos going on in Brooklyn.

Over the past couple of days, sources around the league – and talking heads – have all thought about Irving ‘s ability to retire. The bar was set so low that Durant just wanted to play and loved basketball deserved praise. And the Nets still need to find out if Irving is fully invested. After all, as sources have confirmed, they are still confused by what he has done recently – including going to a family party in the pandemic. Harden, a model of resilience and resilience, also needs to get in better shape. It looked like he would stop trying in Houston, so hopefully this move will revive him as a top scorer and a more reliable option – just by showing up to work. Hungry has also finally won a title and joined Durant and Irving with a ring.

Nash is going to be there for even more than three loads, ego and ball management. DeAndre Jordan is now a starter again, just in case anyone has noticed. And the dynamics of Nash-Irving just didn’t get the best start. There is also only one member. But with seven of their last 11 scoring heroes, Nash and offensive guru Mike D’Antoni have the potential to reach historic heights in terms of effectiveness if all three of their stars are willing to share scenes and sacrifice stats. There are going to be solo plays, but there has to be a ball and man movement as well.

Other concerns include lack of protection and depth. It looks unfortunate that the Nets couldn’t get PJ Tucker – who looked just as tired of Houston as Harden – in the deal. Last season, Durant had called the Texas counterpart Longhorn the best 1-on-1 defender in the league. It also looks unfortunate that they could not have made this deal during the free agency, when Durant was trying to hire Serge Ibaka who was a Thunder team player. A reunion with Durant and Harden may have led Ibaka to a reunion with Kawhi Leonard and LA weather.

Anyway, Jordan – who had fallen behind Allen in the packing order again – will be asked to play a big part and defend the paint. His mobility was not good. The $ 75 million man, Joe Harris, is going to get a ton of 3-point open shots. Bruce Brown should keep going as he is able to lock down a defense. Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot is counted. Landry Shamet needs to start hitting beats.

Suddenly small sequences are involved with Jeff Green and Durant’s playground at times. Rookie great Reggie Perry may suddenly find himself in a few minutes. The Nets still have a Spencer Dinwiddie termination deal to add some face-court depth. Another thing, they have to be on the buying market, hoping that veterans who play a role want to go after it with their talented but potentially cowardly cowardly heart.

The better move always felt like a Harden for Irving – and Houston was believed to have been interested in that concept before the season started – but then it all went away. thermonuclear very fast. Ben Simmons was always like the trump card for Philly, but reportedly the Sixers did not want to give up the trio of Simmons, Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle as well as a load of boats. Now the Rockets are rooting for the Brooklyn explosion, hoping to make money like Boston did in the form of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

Sean Marks cleared Billy King’s mess to take this opportunity to move off the fences, drafting the likes of LeVert and Allen in the second half of the first round and seeing them develop into key pieces and eventually a trade asset. King promised a two-year window that was really one-and-one. Marks needs to reach expansion with Durant and Harden, who have player options for 2022-23. Without complete control of any of their first through 2027, the Nets must keep this heart intact for as long as possible to ensure they do not fall into the lottery. Just ask the previous regime about it.

The Nets have pushed all their slits into the middle. They need to get clarity from Irving whether it is inside or outside. If he is not now, he will never be.

It’s time to get a trophy or two. Nothing less will be accepted. The talent is there. So the dynamite is for a potential blowup. In any case, buckle up. It’s going to be a great tour. Brooklyn fans are just hoping it’s not deja vu again.