Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
James Harden is now a New Jersey Net. Brooklyn Net. What’s the difference?
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Mulligan/AP.)
So it finally happened. After back-to-back losses to the Lakers pretty much broke James Harden‘s belief in the Houston Rockets, four teams got involved in a blockbuster deal that sent the 2018 MVP East. Here are the deets of this trade.
NETS get JAMES HARDEN, 2024 second round pick from CAVS
PACERS get CARIS LeVERT, 2023 second round pick from ROCKETS
CAVS get JARRETT ALLEN, TAUREAN PRINCE
ROCKETS get NETS’ first round picks in 2022, 2024, and 2026. They also get the right to swap picks with NETS in 2021, 2023, 2025, 2027. They also get 2022 first round pick from the CAVS. As for players? ROCKETS get VICTOR OLADIPO, DANTE EXUM, and RODIONS KURUCS
So let’s check with the Rockets first. You would think that Daryl Morey was still GM of the Rockets because that’s a hell of a haul. The draft picks in the even years are unprotected. Since the Stepien Rule is in effect (no consecutive year draft picks can be dealt), the Rockets went with the next best thing and now have the right to swap picks with the Nets in their odd years.
As for the players? Dante Exum has been oft-injured and Rodions Kurucs has seen some action but neither has made an impact on an extended period of time. We know Victor Oladipo has been an all-star but he’s also had a recent ACL injury that he’s still trying to recover from. He’s actually gotten off to a good start this season but the Pacers probably were not too optimistic and that was why he was dealt for a younger LeVert. However, if we do see the Oladipo that burst on the scene in his first year with the Pacers, Oladipo and John Wall (both having had devastating injuries recently) could be a very promising backcourt. Worse comes to worst, they have ALL the draft picks.
The Pacers are having an excellent season and LeVert is two years younger than Oladipo. LeVert himself has had a multitude of injuries but has shown promise the last couple of years. He was tasked to a Sixth Man role with the loaded Nets. In Indiana, he’ll get a chance to show that he could be that guy, especially with T.J. Warren being out indefinitely. He teams with an extremely hot Domantas Sabonis and a defensive power in Myles Turner.
The Cavs are sneakily rebuilding with the additions of Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. The Nets decided to stay with DeAndre Jordan as their man in the middle and Allen has a chance to blossom in Cleveland, even with Andre Drummond in the mix. Taurean Prince is a serviceable 3-and-D player although he will be in his third team in three seasons.
Now… the Nets…
So it’s Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden as the new “Big 3” in the league, right? POSSIBLY.
We know Kyrie has been gone for “personal reasons.” A video went around online where he was at his sister’s birthday party unmasked. And then he was in a Zoom call in Tahanie Aboushi‘s campaign for the Manhattan District Attorney seat. While being unmasked is completely irresponsible on Kyrie’s part, everything else is just fine and dandy as long as he has communication with his team, which doesn’t seem to be the case. Kyrie Irving will do what makes him happy and, again, I’m fine with that as long as it doesn’t affect others. Heck, Kyrie retiring from the NBA is a REAL possibility so there is this chance that Harden might have been acquired to REPLACE Kyrie.
BUT if that’s not the case, wow, Brooklyn is damn top-heavy. Of course, dealing for Harden really killed their depth, especially with Spencer Dinwiddie being out for the season. And depth is a premium in this league and it’s extremely important during the pandemic.
Still, the Nets will dare teams to stop THREE stars that are nearly impossible to stop one-on-one. Harden has been the scoring champ the last three years. Durant led the league in scoring four times and has two rings and two Finals MVPs. Kyrie has the best handles in probably the history of this league and made arguably the most clutch shot in NBA Finals history in his 2016 championship run. These guys are PROVEN. Now can they bring Brooklyn a chip?
The situation is extremely fluid. Harden and Durant should get along fine. Kyrie has become more unpredictable as the years have gone on, though, and it’s tough to know whether he’s all in on this or not. (For what it’s worth, Kyrie was said to be excited about returning to the court soon.)
The teams involved got what they wanted. And I’m sure a lot of people thought that Brooklyn really got what they wanted, especially since they didn’t have to deal Kyrie to get Harden. But did they, really?
Bullet Passes
The Hornets had silently put together a 4-game win streak but that was stopped by the Mavericks on Wednesday. Gordon Hayward, who had been fantastic during that run, left the fourth quarter after he hurt his hip.
Coincidentally, Kristaps Porzingis (yeah, I know) made his debut this season and scored 16 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo got his 20th career triple-double after the Bucks bested the Pistons. 22-10-10 for Giannis. Meanwhile, the Pistons continue to look hopeless at 2-9.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker started for the shorthanded Pelicans and scored a career-best 37 points. That guy is not shy on shooting, I tell ya.
The Blazers came back from 20 down as they caught up to beat the Kings. Damian Lillard scored 40 in the win while CJ McCollum went for 28. That backcourt is averaging a combined 55.5 points after 11 games.
More games getting postponed this week. I just ask for the players and staff to continue to be careful.
NBA Scoreboard
Jan. 13, 2021
Watch This Play
Good grief. Dame from halfcourt to Derrick Jones, Jr.
🚨 HALF COURT LOB 🚨 pic.twitter.com/jTMRjf4SP1
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 14, 2021
That’s what the dunk champ can do.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.