As the Houston Rockets undergo major changes to their roster, the future of their franchise star, James Harden, continues to be clouded by uncertainty.
After his teammate and backcourt star — Russell Westbrook — requested a trade, early reports indicated The Beard was committed and “locked-in” for another season with his squad.
Houston's James Harden remains committed to the Rockets and is "locked in" for the season, sources tell @KellyIkoNBA and me.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020
But now, in a brand-new report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Harden is warming up to the idea of playing somewhere else and apparently already has one particular team in mind: the Brooklyn Nets.
The idea of joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn is resonating with Harden, sources said.Durant and Harden — past teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder — have recently discussed the possibility, but there have yet to be trade discussions between the two front offices.Harden has been increasingly uneasy about the Rockets’ ability to compete for an NBA title and has been considering the possibility of pushing to play elsewhere before his contract expires, sources said.
ESPN Sources with @RamonaShelburne and @ZachLowe_NBA: As Houston’s James Harden considers his future with franchise, one possible trade destination is rising to top of his list: Brooklyn. The idea of reuniting with Kevin Durant and joining Kyrie Irving is resonating with Harden.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2020
In Brooklyn, Harden would reunite with his ex-teammate and former MVP Kevin Durant, who is set to return after a season of rehab from a torn Achilles tendon. He would also join offensive juggernaut Kyrie Irving, who averaged 27.4 points per game last season.
Together, Harden, Irving, and Durant would form an unstoppable trio of shooting, scoring, and ball-handling.
Obviously, they’d be in a position to win a title, which is something Harden has yet to accomplish in his 11-year-career.
In the end, it will be up to the Rockets to decide what to do with the 8x All-Star. He isn’t eligible for free agency until 2022 when he has the option to opt-out of his final year, which can pay him roughly $44 million.
**UPDATE**
James Harden has officially requested a trade from the Rockets and his preferred destination are the Brooklyn Nets. They are working on a reunion between former OKC teammates Harden and Kevin Durant and Team USA teammate Kyrie Irving.
Brooklyn Nets is James Harden’s preferred destination.
An 8-Time NBA All-Star & 3-time NBA scoring champ, if Harden were traded to Brooklyn, again team with Thunder teammate Kevin Durant & ex-FIBA US basketball teammate, Kyrie Irving. They won a gold medal together in 2014. https://t.co/pnmqB69oMU
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) November 16, 2020
Moreover, they are showing interest in Serge Ibaka in a move that would make the Nets a powerhouse in the East and the entire NBA.
