James Harden Sweepstakes

 The James Harden sweepstakes are officially over.  The former MVP has joined forces with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets.  A four-team trade that sends James Harden to the Nets, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince to the Cavs, Caris LeVert to the Pacers and Victor Olidipo, Dante Exum and Alex Kurucs to the Houston Rockets.  The Nets also dished out three first round picks and four first round swaps.  Was it the right move for the Nets?

We are now seven years removed from the Brooklyn Nets infamous trade of acquiring a 36-year-old Paul Pierce and a 37-year-old Kevin Garnett who were completely past their primes.  The Nets mortgaged their entire future, trading the Celtics five first round picks which they then turned into James Young, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and a trade that allowed them to acquire Kyrie Irving.  The Nets two years after the trade did not have Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce on the roster and sat at the bottom of the league unable to attract any free agents and unable build through the draft due to the lack of draft capital.  Fast forward to 2021 and its almost déjà vu for Nets fans.  Is this trade for James Harden going to pan out in a Brooklyn Nets championship?

James Harden is very much in his prime still.  He is still only 31 years old and has been one of the premier offensive weapons this league has ever seen, his step back is as smooth as a Jiffy peanut butter.  Combining him with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on paper, should result in a championship.  Unfortunately for the Brooklyn Nets championships are not won on paper, there is work to be done on the hardwood for this trade to be worth it.  There is however a gigantic risk or the Brooklyn Nets.  All three superstars have a player option at the end of the 2022-2023 season.  If the superstars decide to part ways, the Nets future looks very bleak being that they traded their young talent, as well as giving away three first round picks and four first round swaps.  Time will tell if the Brooklyn Nets can put it together and win a championship, there is still a King out west with his young protégé looking to keep the Larry O’Brien out of their hands.