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It happened. The Nets have a “Big Three.”
The Nets have acquired former MVP and eight-time All-Star James Harden in a four-team deal that cost them Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Rodions Kurucs, Taurean Prince, three first round picks and another four pick swaps ... not one of them protected.
Shams Charania had the details...
Sources: Full current trade:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2021
Rockets: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, 3 BKN first-rounders (22, 24, 26), 1 MIL first (22, unprotected), 4 BKN 1st round swaps (21, 23, 25, 27)
Nets: James Harden
Pacers: Caris LeVert, 2nd-rounder
Cavs: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
In addition, the Nets receive a 2024 second rounder from the Cavaliers.
The deal is as big as any trade in Nets history and perhaps the organization’s biggest gamble. It is certainly the biggest NBA trade since the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis for a similar haul before last season.
Along with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Harden will give the Nets three superstars. Combined, the three players have been named to 24 All-Star games and 18 All-NBA teams. Durant and Harden have won a combined seven NBA scoring championships and have won two MVP awards. Harden, unlike his teammates, does not have an NBA championship, which was one reason he wanted to play with Durant and Irving.
As more than one pundit noted, the trade once again shows the influence of Kevin Durant who reportedly wanted Harden to join him in Brooklyn.
The trade ends two months of rumors that began after Harden, Durant and Irving scrimmaged together in southern California. According to reports at the time, Harden down an extension offer from the Rockets that would have made him the first $50 million-a-year player in league history.
Of course, both Irving and Harden have had personal issues in the first month of the season. Harden is out of shape physically and Irving has now missed four games to unspecified “personal reasons.”
Steve Nash, in his pregrame Zoom with reporters offered little insight on Irving’s situation.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to know any new details about Kyrie’s situation, so I’ll just rely on the front office to learn more as we go. They’re the ones who will be doing the messaging on that front.”
Also, there’s no official word when Harden will join Brooklyn, but Anthony Puccio says the belief is that his first game will be Saturday vs. the Magic. He will have to quarantine once he arrives in New York.
Nash said he couldn’t comment on trade “rumors” but noted, “I know this is a star’s league so we can reimagine that question at another time.”
Nash did say that the players rumored to be moved were not at Madison Square Garden. At the time of the Zoom call, just after 6:00 pm, Nash said he hadn’t met yet with his players.
“I haven’t been in there. We have been preparing in the coach’s locker room and I have not been in the player’s locker room.”
The deal will require the Nets to sign three other players to fill out their roster. They only receive Harden and a 2024 second rounder from Cleveland in the deal.
Woj first reported the details...
Reporting w/ @RamonaShelburne: Brooklyn’s acquiring James Harden in a three-way deal with Cleveland. Caris LeVert, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four 1st round picks – including Cavs’ 2022 first via Bucks -- and 4 Nets pick swaps to Rockets. Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince to Cavs. https://t.co/qM0ZDH4dH3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
Brooklyn has granted James Harden's wish to be reunited with Kevin Durant with the Nets. Huge haul for the Rockets, but the Nets were determined to get another All-NBA player in his prime -- and get him with Harden. KD, Harden ... and Kyrie Irving.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
Sources with @ramonashelburne: Brooklyn sends three unprotected first-round picks -- 2022, 2024 and 2026 in deal -- plus pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027. The Rockets get Cleveland 2022 first-round pick via the Bucks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
Woj later implied that the deal was done to please Kevin Durant...
Whatever the future of Kyrie Irving with the Nets, this trade does one more important thing for Brooklyn: It makes a strong case to help keep the franchise's most important player -- Kevin Durant -- beyond his current contract.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
At the end of the day, three hours before the Nets face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, here’s the layout of the roster and the Nets resources...
Brooklyn has 3 open spots available.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 13, 2021
The Nets have their $5.7M tax ML, the minimum exception and likely a $5.7M Disabled Player exception. https://t.co/w92QwNtJYp
Moreover, the trade suggests that Joe Tsai is still willing to spend money, per Twitter capologist Yossi Gozlan: Nets will now go from $23.3 million over the luxury tax threshold with a potential $87.1 million tax bill with just 12 players on the roster.
- Houston Rockets to Trade James Harden to the Nets - Marc Stein - New York Times
- James Harden trade grades: Winners, losers in this stunning deal - Kevin Pelton - ESPN
- Sources: Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets in 4-team megadeal sending Caris LeVert to Indiana Pacers - Adrian Wojnarowski & Ramona Shelburne - ESPN
- AP source: Harden headed to Nets in blockbuster 4-team deal - Brian Mahoney & Kristie Reinken - AP
- Rockets trade James Harden to Nets in NBA blockbuster - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Kyrie Irving could miss more time due to NBA COVID protocols - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- James Harden trade: Where players are headed in blockbuster deal - Michael Blinn - New York Post
- Caris LeVert flipped for Victor Oladipo in wild James Harden trade aftermath - Jake Nisse - New York Post
- Stephen A. Smith: Kyrie Irving should retire from basketball - Zach Braziller - New York Post
- James Harden-Kyrie Irving dynamic could go ‘up in flames’ for Nets - Marc Berman - New York Post
- James Harden trade will be epic disaster if Nets fail to win title - Mike Vaccaro - New York Post
- Nets’ James Harden trade shakes up Las Vegas’ NBA market - Ben Fawkes - New York Post
- Nets hold off on their James Harden excitement — for now - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Nets trade for James Harden in blockbuster deal with Rockets, source says - Greg Logan - Newsday
- WFAN’s Evan Roberts has a meltdown after Nets’ James Harden trade - Dan Martin - New York Post
- Nets GM Sean Marks explains why he bet the house on James Harden - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- Rockets trading unhappy superstar James Harden to the Nets in four-team blockbuster: reports - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- Deal for Harden gives Nets explosive Big Three but it’s a gamble that must lead to a championship - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
- James Harden trade grades: Superstar gets his wish; LeVert, Oladipo on the move - Zach Harper - The Athletic NBA
- How might James Harden fit alongside Kyrie and the Nets? Let’s check the film - Alex Schiffer - The Athletic New York
- What James Harden’s trade to Brooklyn means for the Nets now and down the road - Alex Schiffer - The Athletic New York
- Nets complete James Harden trade in four-team deal including Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and first-round picks - Garrett Stepien - SNY
- Analyzing the impact James Harden trade will have on Nets’ lineup (Video) - Ian Begley - SNY
- Did the Nets give away too much in the James Harden trade? (Video) - SNY
- Harden trade puts Nets in a familiar position, hoping for a much different result - Steve Lichtenstein - WFAN
- Done Deal: James Harden is Brooklyn-bound - John Torenli - Brooklyn Eagle
- James Harden heading to Nets, Victor Oladipo to Rockets in blockbuster trade - Jeff Zillgitt - USA Today
- Grading the James Harden Blockbuster Trade - Jeremy Woo - Sports Illustrated
- Report: Rockets Trade James Harden to Nets in Multiteam Blockbuster - Michael Shapiro - Sports Illustrated
- Report: James Harden, Victor Oladipo Headline Nets, Rockets, Pacers, Cavs Trade - Scott Polachek - Bleacher Report
- Report: Houston Rockets trade James Harden to Brooklyn Nets in blockbuster deal - Ben Rohrbach - Yahoo! Sports
- What the four-way James Harden trade means for each team - Mike Scotto - Hoopshype
- BROOKLYN NETS ACQUIRE JAMES HARDEN - Brooklyn Nets
- Report: Rockets trade James Harden to Nets in blockbuster deal - Matt Young - Houston Chronicle
- James Harden breaks Rockets, now says they’re not fixable - Matt Young - Houston Chronicle