Openheimer wrote:IgorK wrote:Openheimer wrote:Boston is not offering Brown, Denver has ruled out Porter junior and Murray and the Blazers have ruled out CJ. So it’s either that or Simmons
Ruling out Porter Jr or CJ for Harden is nothing but posturing. Brown will be on the table as long as Cs only have to give up a couple of FRPs (and not a boatload). Thanks for playing.
It’s not a Ainge type of move but I can see your point
Despite the narrative Ainge has gone big game hunting before, will he be successful though? Who knows.
But he went big for KG and succeeded.
He traded a top 10 pick and an extremely valuable long term signed Jae Crowder (for like 2 mil a year) for the biggest malcontent in the league in Irving with the hopes of going all in on AD trade with his friend convincing him to join and it didn't work out as AD had 0 interest in it. (he also made the same bet getting Ray Allen at the draft and had to spend weeks selling KG on allowing himself to join that crew, so same bet but this time the star didn't change their mind)
After that it looks like all avenues were closed, but Harden is still around. It's hard to imagine a scenario where if he could trade one of Brown or Kemba for Harden he wouldn't be interested in doing so and the owners also signing off on it.
Any combination of Harden/Tatum/ Kemba or Brown is enough talent to contend in the current 2 star environment and those opportunities do not come around often. Also specifically you wouldn't imagine Kemba has a longer self life than Harden so by doing nothing he's wasting Kemba's end of prime years.
I think in the end though HOU is just waiting it out until Ben Simmons is available, it seems like Philly is in the position to give the best package by far.
