James has provided us with so many great memories as weve watched him grow from Sixth Man of the Year to a perennial All-Star and MVP. 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. Per multiple reports, the Pacers would acquire LeVert and a future second-round pick from the Rockets in exchange. He made 10 of 16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, who opened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championship aspirations, within nine at halftime. At the Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill, the Nets moved ahead of the Bucks and are now the second-favorites to win the NBA title, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers. Now Sixers shot-callers Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will have to plot a course forward. June 1, 2021 Harden records 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Nets complete a 4-1 series win over the Celtics in the opening round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. MORE:Why reportedly unhappy James Harden could move on from Nets. Scoring 146 points and losing is almost unheard of for any team. That young and, shall we say, permissive backcourt could also benefit from the arrival of an imposing interior defender who ranks seventh among all players in total blocks since he entered the league in 2017. The Brooklyn Nets are on pace for some record-breaking numbers following the acquisition of James Harden. On Monday, he played his fifth game with the 76ers, a 121-106 win against the Chicago Bulls to improve the Sixers record to 40-24, second best in the East. James Harden trade grades: Rockets send Among issues Charania highlighted, Harden's style of play was a "point of contention" among the Nets staff and players. Simmons felt he was made the scapegoat by his former head coach Doc June 5, 2021 43 seconds into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bucks, Harden exits with a hamstring injury that would hold him out of Games 2 through 4 of the series. Harden wasnt just a superstar, but a one-man hierarchy. "And they're really a powerhouse right now in the East having KD, James Harden, Kyrie Irving together on one team. Kram: As if the Thunder didnt have enough draft capital piled up over the next seven years! But it definitely did impact the team because originally me, Kyrie and KD on the court andwinning covers up a lot of that stuff but it was unfortunate that we played 16 games out of whatever it was. There is no other way to slice it: the Brooklyn Nets 2021-22 season has been nothing short of a colossal disappointment. Harden made his Nets debut on Jan. 16. Its an amazing move for Brooklyn. Playing alongside Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis should get him only the best of looks, and unlike Allenwho landed on a team that is rebuildingLeVert will still be on a playoff team, and perhaps a more dangerous one because of him. I couldnt make a layup, the 33-year-old Harden said with a laugh. Nets trades: Everything they got back for Durant, Irving, 122.6 offensive rating Best in league Would be the best of all time, 119.9 defensive rating Worst in league Would be the worst of all time pic.twitter.com/B5EbhfuEzH. He only took seven shots in the first half. Add in the one Play-In game win and the three playoff losses, and the Nets went 21-29 after Kyries return (winning percenter of 42%). Three months later, the Nets ultimately finished as the seven-seed with a record of 44-38. Harden's passing ability served as the center of an arsenal that made him Ditto for Caris LeVert, a player who is similar to Harden in function but worse in every meaningful way. May 15, 2021 Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. Those words temporarily torpedoed Oladipos trade stock, but they were also likely the final straw for Pacers president Kevin Pritchard, who saw history repeating itself with one of the players he acquired for the last superstar who begged out of town. No matter how this season went, Oladipo wasnt long for Indiana. Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn as he had this season to become an MVP finalist. Oladipo will find worthwhile collaborators in John Wall and head coach Stephen Silas, pick-and-roll partners in Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins, and a team that needs his ballhandling in order to properly function. Harden trade The Nets are now able to trot out a lineup of three players capable of scoring 25 or more points on any night in a collection of firepower to rival any Big Three in recent years. The Rockets will surely be relieved to see Oladipo after Hardens high-usage pouting reached new extremes this week, but a vibe upgrade can take a team that just lost its franchise player only so far. Bridges kept Game 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort. Matt Dollinger: The irony was not lost on me when the Pacers traded the guy who infamously said Can I come play with yall? to a 3-6 team in the state of Texas (and in a state of chaos). Harden does not travel with the team to Washington for a game scheduled for the night of Feb. 10. NBA Please check your email for a confirmation. The moment itself highlighted the reportedly "weird" chemistry between the two guards and preceded the Nets' seven-point loss at the hand of the Cavs. The Brooklyn Nets suffered a shocking loss Sunday night against the Washington Wizards. I mean, Harden had DeMarcus Cousins calling him out for his lack of professionalism, for crying out loud. It has been a pleasure watching them grow both as players and as people and they will always be part of our Nets family. The Nets beat the Knicks 116-109 thanks in large part to Durants 26-point effort. My legs, my body feels just powerful, feels strong.. Harden Aug. 8, 2021 Durant agrees to a four-year, $198 million extension with the Nets, keeping him with the franchise through the 2025-26 NBA season. Brooklyns Seth Curry scored 10 points in his family reunion against his father-in-law, Rivers. It would make a hell of a lot of sense for a Cleveland team with no significant money on the books save for the final two years of Kevin Loves deal to pony up and make Allen a big part of the young core theyve been building. But thats the least of my worries. The Nets Winning Percentage Has Dropped By Nearly 25 A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. "Adding an All-NBA player such as James to our roster better positions our team to compete against the league's best," Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement released by the team. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that the Nets are "absolutely engaged" in trade discussions despite Nash commenting that Harden will be with the team past the deadline. Not before one last curveball, though. This time, he yields Caris LeVert, a young player with All-Star potential, and an already signed contract that guarantees he would do so in a Pacers uniform. May 15, 2021 Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for the final time in the 2020-21 regular season. That was in a 98-85 victory over the Miami Heat two days after the Heat dropped 124 points on the Nets. Oct. 12, 2021 Nets general manager Sean Marks announces that Irving will not play or practice with the Nets until he is eligible to be a full participant. Remember, Harden is making $40.8 million this season and $43.8 million next season, and he even holds a $46.9 million option for 2022-23. Lets break down all the ripple effects from the seasons first eye-popping move. Theres a reason phrases like it factor and clutch gene are staples of sporting lexicon. KD on his final shot in regulation: pic.twitter.com/7wnBEUkB8G. WebThe Rockets have won 6 straight and officially have a better record than the Nets since the Harden trade. Embiid was smacked in the face on a missed dunk that sent him crashing to the court in an attempt to draw a flagrant foul. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Memphis wasn't 'fine in the West' -- getting there hinges on massive culture questions, 'Help the bear': LeBron James trolls Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies, Why the Lakers' real test begins now, after dispatching the No. Harden DeAnthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang all hit 3s -- the 76ers made 13 of 21 in the half -- to keep them in control of Game 1. Brooklyn Nets timeline: What went wrong leading to For several hours on Wednesday, the Sixers seemed certain to land Harden, with just some dotting of the is and crossing of the ts and withholding of the Maxeys to be completed. Hardens ineffectiveness around the rim in the first half -- he was 1 of 8 on 2s -- was offset by his 5-of-7 shooting on 3s. Scan this QR code to download the app now. But considering their circumstances, the Nets made out pretty well. No worries for the Sixers, though. Either Philly does some serious damage control, decries the trade talk as gossip, and states that Ben is our guy, and then Simmons actually believes it. Irving, Kevin Durant, and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets will look to stave off elimination and the end of their season tonight in Brooklyn with Game 4 against the Celtics set to tip-off at 7 p.m. RELATED: Kyrie Irvings Playoff Record With And Without LeBron James Paints A Brutal Picture, Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isnt quite sure how hes allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Tonight is the answer. Keep track of all the official trades announced during the 2020-21 NBA season. Harden is averaging 26 points and 11.2 assists per game in a Brooklyn uniform. Harden had all the right moves against the Nets. The Nets' title odds improved from +550 to +300. According to a report from The Athletic, Irving lit sage in the visitor's locker room at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, while Harden "looked at Kyrie like he had three heads.". [ 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 Dont get me wrong: Houston still got an impressive haul, but its difficult to peg the Rockets as winners in this. Feb. 13, 2021 In a win over the Warriors, Durant tweaks his left hamstring, an injury that would ultimately hold him out for seven weeks and 22 games. A timeline of events shows that the writing may have been on the wall well before anyone on the outside may have realized. Silas called the drama surrounding Harden an all-around messed up situation.. At least Sam Presti can reap the rewards of one Harden trade. Rather than let the situation drag out, Pritchard waited only long enough for Oladipos value to rise back above water so he could trade him to a rebuilding team where yall is the most spoken word in the vernacular. I don't plan on leaving this organization and the situation we have. Philly was 5-0 since acquiring Harden going into last nights (Wednesday) game hosting the Phoenix Suns. 1 overall pick in 2016 hasnt played in an NBA game since last June when the 76ers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons and Russillo discuss the Warriors win over the Kings, how the Sacramento should view this season, the Knicks-Heat Game 1, the Celtics-76ers series, and more, The Nets Mortgaged Their Future Again, but This Time Its Worth It, The Rockets Still Have a Mess to Clean Up, by 12.1 points per 100 possessions in Allens minutes, fourth best among players who have finished at least 25 such plays this season, seventh among all players in total blocks. Hes older at 26 years old, but he also is developing into a legitimate shot creator and is already a very good defender. Too much had been said by him (and family members) to keep the former Hoosier and his hometown team together, especially with his contract expiring this summer. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at James Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Joel Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory. The Nets acquired the three-time scoring champion from the Houston Rockets on Wednesday in a move he has sought for weeks. Its most recent earnings report at Obviously, they got better way better, said two-time Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee. The 2018 MVP put on an absolute clinic against San Antonio, scoring 30 points, dishing out 15 assists and grabbing 14 rebounds in the victory. The Nets just traded both Durant and Irving in the same week to the Suns and the Mavericks respectively. Harden, who appears to be out of shape after joining the Rockets after training camp began, is averaging 24.8 this season after three straight seasons above 30, culminating in MVP honors in 2018. Rivers and fans, and last summer demanded a trade. Nets NBA Jan. 12, 2022 Two nights after a confounding loss to the Trail Blazers, Durant, Harden and Irving share the floor for what would be the 16th and final time, as the Nets cruise to an impressive 26-point blowout win against the Bulls. A first-round sweep would mark a pitiful end to a wildly disappointing season. Bridges scored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in the first half. This goes one of two ways. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. You can probably name more than a dozen NBA players who have lived that out, if not more, and yet it seems like few have dealt with as much uncertainty as LeVert the past two seasons. The Rockets have sent James Harden to the Nets in a blockbuster four-team trade that also involves the Pacers and Cavaliers, completing the unhappy star's exit from Houston and setting up a potential superteam in Brooklyn. WebThe Brooklyn Nets are 55-25 with James Harden all-time. 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. Just not in the way he thinks. Power Rankings Notebook: Impact of Harden trade, 2020-21 Trade Tracker: Every official trade, Series preview: What to expect in Warriors-Lakers, 5 takeaways from Warriors' Game 7 victory, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win over Knicks, Curry sets Game 7 record with 50 points vs. Kings, Brooks fined $25K for violating interview rules. They have to start over without a single All-Star on the roster. The silver lining for Oladipo comes in the void Harden leaves behind. Any of Brooklyns three stars could opt for free agency in 2022, and in the process, change the math on this entire proposition. 33. What Are the Ripple Effects of the Nets James Harden Trade? That is mind-blowing and shows they can score at will. The Nets kept it close in both games, but ultimately, their poor performance in the clutch let them down. He was averaging 24.6 points, 12.4 assists and 7.4 rebounds as a Sixer. Harden That all-around dominance has been a staple of Harden's since joining the Nets. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Kevon Looney's historically elite rebounding provided separation in a winner-take-all Game 7. The Nets are loading up for a title run with three of the highest-paid players in the league. But the Rockets chose door no. Thats the Nets record when all three of their starsDurant, Harden and Kyrie Irvingplay together, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Finney-Smith is less of an offensive force than Bridges, but hes one of the best multi-positional defenders in the NBA. While their 6-3 record is impressive, the Nets defense is clearly a massive issue. The Rockets had the worst record in the previous two seasons and finished tied with the Spurs for the second-worst record this season, earning another lottery pick in this years draft. By submitting your email, you agree to our, The Winners and Losers of the James Harden Trade. 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. Uggetti: Imagine doing your job well for two years and never being able to escape the looming reality that you could be traded at any minute. Nets However, there is that 119.9 defensive James Hardens sixth sense: What makes playmaking critical to the Sixers stars game. section: | slug: james-harden-makes-history-in-nets-win-over-spurs-notches-seventh-triple-double-since-trade-to-brooklyn | sport: basketball | route: article_single.us | Cookie Notice Harden became the first player known to ever post a 30-15-10 line without committing a single turnover, though individual turnovers have only been tracked since the 1977-78 season. Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics face off again. His average so far this season ranked 18th in the NBA, well off his usual pace. James Harden did not play, but his team still managed to score 146 points. (And when I say someone like Bradley Beal, I mean Bradley Beal). Your email address will not be published. Here are five questions that could determine that series outcome. The trade was agreed to after the Rockets opted to keep Harden away from Wednesday's practice, following the former MVP's comments Tuesday that Houston isn't "good enough" to compete for a championship. The Brooklyn Nets are on the verge of being swept by the Boston Celtics. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Trade Nets acquire James Harden in blockbuster trade The 3-time scoring champ is headed to Brooklyn in a deal involving Houston and Cleveland. Grading Every Teams Performance in the 2023 NFL Draft. Harden, 32, who forced a trade from the Houston Rockets to the Nets in January of 2021, wanted out of Brooklyn a year later. Nets have best offense, worst defense in history since The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. The trade that sent James Harden from Brooklyn to Philadelphia signaled the end of the Nets' Big Three era seemingly before it ever began. Will the Harden-Irving-Durant combo work in Brooklyn? The Houston Rockets have a lot of work to do this summer to improve their roster after finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA, and their first move was to find a new coach. The James Harden trade, of course, is a factor, but theres been speculation that Harden wanted the trade because of Kyries behavior, anyway. Brooklyn expects Harden to leave all that behind him and that his transition to the Nets is smooth. The Nets pushed most of their risk out to the future, some of it so distant that its impossible to make out what exactly is at stake. Which teams crushed the draft, and which came up short? NBA Markkanen Bests Brunson for Most Improved Player - Knicks The Nets go all-in, pairing Harden with fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a move impacting multiple teams in both conferences. The Nets have officially lost all of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the span of a calendar year. Before the Nets are feted as Finals favorites, lets remember that Harden falls squarely in the be-careful-what-you-wish-for zone. 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. Harden used every move in the disgruntled superstar handbook, from delaying his training camp arrival to going on a very public gentlemans club world tour to sandbagging teammates and his new head coach to showing up out of shape to then somehow remaining out of shape despite playing a professional sport. Steve Nash Applauds Nets for Win Over Jazz. Copyright 2008-2023 BroBible. Caris, Jarrett, Rodions and Taurean were instrumental to the team's success and have made an enormous impact on our organization. 2022-23 Postseason Brooklyn Nets Stats | ESPN The Nets and 76ers finally meet since the Harden for Simmons 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. The Knicks became the first team in the NBA this season to hold an opponent under 80 points and look to take a 3-1 lead in the series on Sunday when they host the Cavaliers for Game 4 at 1 p.m. My focus is on the season and winning a championship. The superstar era is over in Brooklyn. After a cringeworthy start to the season (and some even more cringeworthy quotes from their star), the Houston Rockets have relented and traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in a four-team megadeal, which also sent Caris LeVert to the Pacers and Victor Oladipo to the Rockets. In the meantime, the Nets were short-handed for their game against the New York Knicks, where coach Steve Nash declined to discuss Harden but did confirm that the players the Nets were trading were not in the building. Thats more than The off-night from the floor wasnt good enough for Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. All are under contract through 2022-23, with Harden and Durant both set to earn more than $40 million in each of the next two seasons. While his scoring has decreased from the absurd levels he reached in Houston, he has averaged an NBA-best 11.1 assists per game since joining the Nets to go along with 8.4 rebounds per contest. The odds are (and the numbers suggest) this new Big Three is too talented to fail, but someones going to have to take a backseat, and despite all his recent gripes, Harden reportedly got everything he wanted during his nine years in Houston. It was struck less than 24 hours after Harden seemed to deliver a farewell address of sorts following the Rockets loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, and just before Irving was set to miss a fifth straight game during a personal absence from the Nets. If the Nets go on to win the title, Allens near-miss will sting. The blockbuster trade sending James Harden to Philadelphia in return for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks is official. NBA Not only is 124.6 the worst in the league, but it is actually the worst in NBA history! They can certainly do that now. The question is: Did they dangle Simmons so far out in the trade waters that theres no reeling him back in? Feb. 4, 2022 Harden is sidelined with a hamstring issue, his first of three consecutive absences from the Nets as trade rumors loom. The above stat is a lot to unpack. SIGNUP FOR OUR FREE WEEKDAY EMAIL NEWSLETTER, "I love receiving EDITORIALLY BLACK first thing in the morning! The Nets have an offensive rating of 122.6 since acquiring Harden. On Jan. 15, 2021, after essentially tanking his way to a trade from Houston, Harden announced he was willing to do whatever it takes to rack up victories and titles with the Nets. But should any of these teams falter over the next few years which feels like a good bet considering what just happened to the Nets things could shake out extremely well for Brooklyn. Breaking down the trade with stats, film and analysis on Brooklyn, Houston, Cleveland and Indiana. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. the 2019 Chris PaulforRussell Westbrook swap, Everything You Need to Know About the James Harden Trade. Feb. 9, 2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey reportsthat the Sixers and Nets held conversations surrounding a Harden-Simmons swap but added that Brooklyn brass was split on whether the team should keep or trade Harden.