James Harden has been rumored to have asked for a trade to multiple destinations. During the offseason, it was said that he was pushing for a trade to a contender. Harden would be a good addition to any team, as he is a former MVP and three-level scorer that can do everything on the basketball court.
A potential trade destination could be the Boston Celtics. James Harden has been rumored to have been interested in the Boston Celtics, as they are a solid team with pieces for the future. Tim Bontemps of ESPN has recently proposed a trade package featuring both Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown. Here is the trade package:
Boston Celtics Receive: James Harden, Eric Gordon, P. J. Tucker
Houston Rockets Receive: Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Aaron Nesmith, 2021 and 2023 unprotected first-round picks
Houston Rockets Build A Competitive Roster
The Houston Rockets would love this trade for the now and the future. A Jaylen Brown-Christian Wood pairing sounds amazing on paper, as their games would probably complement each other. While Jaylen Brown isn’t quite as prolific a scorer as James Harden, he makes up for it by being good on both ends of the floor. At times, Jaylen Brown has looked like he was able to carry an offense, and with Christian Wood, he’ll have a big man that can do everything on the court. Two talented young stars playing together should have the Rockets set for the future. Add in John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, and it’s easy to get excited about this Rockets’ roster.
Kemba Walker is currently injured, but once he recovers, he would be able to share the court with Wall, as he is a scoring focus point guard: he could play the SG position on the offensive end. Teams have run two small guards in the past to great success. Aaron Nesmith and the two picks are valuable assets for later down the line: Nesmith in particular has potential as a shooter. On the Houston Rockets, Nesmith would be able to have a bigger role than on the Boston Celtics, which could aid his continued development as a shooter.
Boston Celtics Pair Two Superstars
With this trade, the Boston Celtics could pair two superstars. Jayson Tatum is one of the best players in the league, and adding a perennial MVP candidate to the mix would let the Boston Celtics compete in the Eastern Conference. James Harden makes any team an instant playoff contender with his scoring, and his ability to set up his teammates could help players like Tristan Thompson and Marcus Smart. James Harden is an offensive superstar that has the vision to set people up for open shots. Harden can elevate a player’s offensive level just because he can make the right play and get his teammate an open shot. P. J. Tucker and Eric Gordon are two solid pieces for their bench: Tucker as a defender, and Gordon as a scorer.
The Celtics would have to give up a lot to get James Harden. He is a superstar that has high usage, and GM’s may fear off the court concerns. However, talent is undeniable: if you get to pair two superstars, then you take the chance to do it. Losing Jaylen Brown would be a tough blow: but James Harden is the type of player that people risk their assets for, and Danny Ainge could take a shot at immediate contention for a championship.
