Brooklyn Nets acquire James Harden from Rockets in blockbuster trade
The Brooklyn Nets acquired eight-time NBA All-Star James Harden from the Houston Rockets in a four-team blockbuster trade Wednesday afternoon.
Here are the full details of the trade as of now:
Nets receive: James Harden, Cleveland 2024 second-round pick
Rockets receive: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, three Brooklyn first-round picks (22, 24, 26), one Cleveland first-round pick via Milwaukee (22), four Brooklyn first-round swaps (21, 23, 25, 27)
Cavaliers receive: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
Pacers receive: Caris Levert
Harden requested a trade to Brooklyn in November and made it clear to owner Tilman Fertitta that he did not believe in the team's ability to compete. The star guard proceeded to turn down a two-year, $103 million contract extension, emphasizing his desire to be traded.
Harden was visibly frustrated with his situation throughout the first nine games of the season. Tensions reached a boiling point Tuesday night following Houston's 117-100 loss to Los Angeles.
"I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can," Harden said after the loss via Tim MacMahon. "I mean, this situation is crazy. It's something that I don't think can be fixed."
Houston requested that Harden not attend practice Wednesday and reengaged in trade negotiations. Philadelphia and Brooklyn were long seen as the favorites to land the disgruntled star. The Rockets were reportedly seeking a package from the 76ers centered around Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle and first-round picks. Philadelphia attempted to find a third team to include draft compensation but ultimately failed.
The trade reunites Harden with former teammate Kevin Durant alongside Kyrie Irving to form a team that should be the Eastern Conference favorite. Irving has missed the Nets' last five games due to personal leave. The uncertainty surrounding Irving's future reportedly increased urgency on Brooklyn's end to get a deal done.
Brooklyn's depth took a hit in the trade. The current depth chart will be some variation of this:
PG: Kyrie Irving, Tyler Johnson, Chris Chiozza
SG: James Harden, Bruce Brown, Landry Shamet
SF: Joe Harris, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
PF: Kevin Durant, Jeff Green
C: DeAndre Jordan, Nicolas Claxton, Reggie Perry
The Nets will have three open roster spots. General Manager Sean Marks will have the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception ($5.7M) and a $5.7M disabled player exception to fill out the roster.
Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie are now the only remaining members of Brooklyn's 2018-2019 team. The shorthanded Nets will travel across the river Wednesday night for their first matchup of the season with the New York Knicks.