[BLEACHER REPORT]: Open Willingness From James Harden To Relocate This Summer

[kuclas]

He's 33...

One of those picks is already gone, another one comes up this summer and will be late late 20s, and KD alone means next year's swap won't be used. So sure there are two unprotected picks in a few years that might be decent (or might not).

Even if Harden leaves that's two full years of a superstar for a couple of picks down the line. Was a great gamble and they're fine even worst case scenario.

Nope.
Houston hasn't used any of it's draft capital from the Harden trade yet and they still control the Nets' entire first round draft future for the next half decade (plus the swaps and picks they acquired in exchange for the Nets players they received in the deal).

2021 draft swap (did not convey)
2022 nets draft pick (likely 25-28 range)

So already one draft swap did not convey

2023 draft swap (with Kd resigned) highly doubt will be better than 15. Meaning Houston still sucks and keeps their draft pick and nets keep their draft slot

So that’s 3 years already
2024 unprotected pick
2025 draft swap
2026 unprotected pick

Very hard to predict. Could be worth something. But it’s a long time to be bad for Houston.

The only high draft slots a team is guarantee if they themselves decide to tank (like Houston tanked last year) and tanking this year.

[BallerTalk]

One of those picks is already gone, another one comes up this summer and will be late late 20s, and KD alone means next year's swap won't be used. So sure there are two unprotected picks in a few years that might be decent (or might not).

Even if Harden leaves that's two full years of a superstar for a couple of picks down the line. Was a great gamble and they're fine even worst case scenario.

Nope.
Houston hasn't used any of it's draft capital from the Harden trade yet and they still control the Nets' entire first round draft future for the next half decade (plus the swaps and picks they acquired in exchange for the Nets players they received in the deal).

2021 draft swap (did not convey)
2022 nets draft pick (likely 25-28 range)

So already one draft swap did not convey

2023 draft swap (with Kd resigned) highly doubt will be better than 15. Meaning Houston still sucks and keeps their draft pick and nets keep their draft slot

So that’s 3 years already
2024 unprotected pick
2025 draft swap
2026 unprotected pick

Very hard to predict. Could be worth something. But it’s a long time to be bad for Houston.

The only high draft slots a team is guarantee if they themselves decide to tank (like Houston tanked last year) and tanking this year.

Editorializing and conjecture aside, the immutable FACT is, as I wrote, the Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade and they control the Nets' first round draft through the year 2027.

Six years is a LONG time for any franchise.

For perspective, all of the last 5 NBA champions (Bucks, Lakers, Warriors, Raptors, Cavaliers) have gone from lottery to champions or champions to lottery in the last six seasons.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Harden wants to be somewhere warm, it’s that simple.

If he could get to Miami or LA he will do it.

Miami already locked up Kyle Lowry for 3 years. No room for harden

[HotelVitale]

So that’s 3 years already
2024 unprotected pick
2025 draft swap
2026 unprotected pick
Very hard to predict. Could be worth something. But it’s a long time to be bad for Houston. The only high draft slots a team is guarantee if they themselves decide to tank (like Houston tanked last year) and tanking this year.

Editorializing and conjecture aside, the immutable FACT is, as I wrote, the Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade and they control the Nets' first round draft through the year 2027. Six years is a LONG time for any franchise. For perspective, all of the last 5 NBA champions (Bucks, Lakers, Warriors, Raptors, Cavaliers) have gone from lottery to champions or champions to lottery in the last six seasons.

Baller, that was already corrected like 3 pages ago in this thread. Swap was used but not a pick yet, everyone's on the same page.

But it seems like you're more interested in defending this for the Rockets, and I feel like kuclas' post was already pretty fair there. There's a good chance one or a couple picks ends up in the lotto after KD's prime sunsets, but really who knows? Especially given that the Nets have very deep pockets and no incentive to be bad for as long as those picks are due. It's a genuine unknown right now.

Also that lists you're quoting is useful but there are also plenty of teams that haven't been in the bottom 5 or 10 in the draft order in 5 years too. Not sure the picks are a big success if they end up being like #27, #24, and #14 one year. Very shaky return for a MVP-level superstar

But in any case, I actually feel like the Rockets' strategy has already been validated somewhat by them keeping their pick this year. If they took on Simmons or some other pretty good player last year, they wouldn't have been able to mega-tank and keeping that pick becomes much less likely. And a #2 pick in a draft with a nice top 3 was better than any asset they were offered.

[Laimbeer]

Is some of it just ego/attention? He sees a lot of great players explore options and get courted.

[Laimbeer]

Morey is clearly fueling these rumors.

I'm not saying theres no chance he leaves. But Morey has been trying to make this happen forever.

Harden has said openly he'd like to become a free agent and explore his options. Morey wouldn't have to fuel anything. I'm also wondering why this OP is a story.

[HardenGoat]

It's strictly about the Kyrie situation. Imagine what happens in the locker room when say Patty Mills has a chat with Kyrie updating their goals for the season. Like conversing on different planets. How is the organization going to navigate a contract with Kyrie? What if mandates persist into the next year? Harden is just being wise cause as great as it sounds to have Durant there could still be this quack coming and going as he pleases with a total disregard for team values and sacrifice in favor of his bigger than basketball life - which nobody really knows what that is.

[BallerTalk]

So that’s 3 years already
2024 unprotected pick
2025 draft swap
2026 unprotected pick
Very hard to predict. Could be worth something. But it’s a long time to be bad for Houston. The only high draft slots a team is guarantee if they themselves decide to tank (like Houston tanked last year) and tanking this year.

Editorializing and conjecture aside, the immutable FACT is, as I wrote, the Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade and they control the Nets' first round draft through the year 2027. Six years is a LONG time for any franchise. For perspective, all of the last 5 NBA champions (Bucks, Lakers, Warriors, Raptors, Cavaliers) have gone from lottery to champions or champions to lottery in the last six seasons.

Baller, that was already corrected like 3 pages ago in this thread. Swap was used but not a pick yet, everyone's on the same page.

But it seems like you're more interested in defending this for the Rockets, and I feel like kuclas' post was already pretty fair there. There's a good chance one or a couple picks ends up in the lotto after KD's prime sunsets, but really who knows? Especially given that the Nets have very deep pockets and no incentive to be bad for as long as those picks are due. It's a genuine unknown right now.

Also that lists you're quoting is useful but there are also plenty of teams that haven't been in the bottom 5 or 10 in the draft order in 5 years too. Not sure the picks are a big success if they end up being like #27, #24, and #14 one year. Very shaky return for a MVP-level superstar

But in any case, I actually feel like the Rockets' strategy has already been validated somewhat by them keeping their pick this year. If they took on Simmons or some other pretty good player last year, they wouldn't have been able to mega-tank and keeping that pick becomes much less likely. And a #2 pick in a draft with a nice top 3 was better than any asset they were offered.

I just stated the facts.
No editorializing. No opinion.
No speculation. No conjecture.
Although, to be fair, I can see why you would take those facts as pushback against opinions from you and Kuclas

Still, if you believe something I wrote was in error please point it out. I am more than happy to accept correction.
Otherwise my comment remains uncontroverted and I stand firmly by it.

[levon]

He could technically get to the Clippers if they trade their mid-level depth guys for him. Do the Nets value that package over Ben Simmons? But ultimately none of that matters if KD is the lone superstar on that team.

[danvato]

I just stated the facts.
No editorializing. No opinion.
No speculation. No conjecture.
Although, to be fair, I can see why you would take those facts as pushback against opinions from you and Kuclas

Still, if you believe something I wrote was in error please point it out. I am more than happy to accept correction.
Otherwise my comment remains uncontroverted and I stand firmly by it.

But you did not state facts. You said:

"Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade"

Part of said capital was:

four first round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027)

2021 has passed, the pick did not convey, thus part of what they got in the trade is already gone. This is a fact, no need for follow-up about your opinion on how valuable this swap was or wasn't, and what other assets remain available for the Rocket, it does not change the fact that you did not "state facts"

[Hello Brooklyn]

Morey is clearly fueling these rumors.

I'm not saying theres no chance he leaves. But Morey has been trying to make this happen forever.

Harden has said openly he'd like to become a free agent and explore his options. Morey wouldn't have to fuel anything. I'm also wondering why this OP is a story.

He never said he wanted to explore his options. Youre making that up.

[Laimbeer]

Morey is clearly fueling these rumors.

I'm not saying theres no chance he leaves. But Morey has been trying to make this happen forever.

Harden has said openly he'd like to become a free agent and explore his options. Morey wouldn't have to fuel anything. I'm also wondering why this OP is a story.

He never said he wanted to explore his options. Youre making that up.

Over the course of my career, I’ve never been a free agent before. I’ve always just been loyal, just signing a contract extension and being there. I just want to take my time with it.

It’s going to be very, very difficult to leave here, but … or even to leave Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. I think this season, I just want to focus on winning a championship, and everything else will work itself out.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Harden has said openly he'd like to become a free agent and explore his options. Morey wouldn't have to fuel anything. I'm also wondering why this OP is a story.

He never said he wanted to explore his options. Youre making that up.

Over the course of my career, I’ve never been a free agent before. I’ve always just been loyal, just signing a contract extension and being there. I just want to take my time with it.

It’s going to be very, very difficult to leave here, but … or even to leave Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. I think this season, I just want to focus on winning a championship, and everything else will work itself out.

Where in the statement does he say he wants to explore his options?

Again not true lol.

[BallerTalk]

...you did not "state facts"

... the Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade and they control the Nets' first round draft through the year 2027.

[Laimbeer]

He never said he wanted to explore his options. Youre making that up.

Over the course of my career, I’ve never been a free agent before. I’ve always just been loyal, just signing a contract extension and being there. I just want to take my time with it.

It’s going to be very, very difficult to leave here, but … or even to leave Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. I think this season, I just want to focus on winning a championship, and everything else will work itself out.

Where in the statement does he say he wants to explore his options?

Again not true lol.

Gosh, you're right. He didn't use that exact phrase.

[danvato]

...you did not "state facts"

... the Rockets have yet to use any of their draft capital from the Harden trade and they control the Nets' first round draft through the year 2027.

So if swaps don't convey in 2023, 2025, 2027 you're just gonna say they're yet to use draft capital?

[Hello Brooklyn]

Where in the statement does he say he wants to explore his options?

Again not true lol.

Gosh, you're right. He didn't use that exact phrase.

Nor did he imply it or say anything close to it.

All he said is hes excited to be a FA.

But thanks for looking up the quote that proved you wrong

[bebopdeluxe]

Where in the statement does he say he wants to explore his options?

Again not true lol.

Gosh, you're right. He didn't use that exact phrase.

Yup. Don't you know that "I want to take my time with it" means "I want to take my time with it before I ABSOLUTELY re-sign with the Nets".

Get with the program, bro.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Where in the statement does he say he wants to explore his options?

Again not true lol.

Gosh, you're right. He didn't use that exact phrase.

Yup. Don't you know that "I want to take my time with it" means "I want to take my time with it before I ABSOLUTELY re-sign with the Nets".

Get with the program, bro.

What an absurd response.

All I said is he didn't say he wanted to explore his options.

I never said hes def resigning with the Nets.

Try reading the conversation before you comment. Thanks.

[geminiz]

If Brooklyn can get Simmons+ from Philly, they should make that trade now.

Imagine both Simmons and Irving refuse to play during the playoff for their own reasons...

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