The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to acquire superstar shooting guard James Harden from the Houston Rockets, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Harden, 31, is a three-time NBA scoring champion and one-time league MVP back during the 2017-18 season.
Reporting with @RamonaShelburne: Brooklyn is acquiring Houston’s James Harden in a blockbuster deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
Harden has grown frustrated with the Rockets in recent months, including showing up late to training camp and being under investigation for a video depicting him attending a party without wearing a face mask.
“The Beard” vocalized frustrations just last night after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, with a trade request publicly known.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Nets Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen are going to the Rockets along with four first-round draft picks.
The Nets are trading for All-NBA star James Harden and sending four first-round picks and four draft swaps to the Rockets, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen are being moved — could be another team or two involved.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2021
The Nets have reunited James Harden with Kevin Durant, two teammates during the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2012 NBA Finals run.
According to Wojnarowski, Harden expressed a desire to play alongside Durant again.
Brooklyn has granted James Harden's wish to be reunited with Kevin Durant with the Nets. Huge haul for the Rockets, but the Nets were determined to get another All-NBA player in his prime — and get him with Harden. KD, Harden … and Kyrie Irving.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
Further, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trading Dante Exum in the deal. Rodions Kurucs and Taurean Prince are involved, too.
Reporting w/ @RamonaShelburne: Brooklyn’s acquiring James Harden in a three-way deal with Cleveland. Caris LeVert, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four 1st round picks – including Cavs’ 2022 first via Bucks — and 4 Nets pick swaps to Rockets. Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince to Cavs. https://t.co/qM0ZDH4dH3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2021
More madness: Indiana Pacers All-Star guard Victor Oladipo is going to the Rockets via Houston sending LeVert to the Hoosier State.
Rockets are acquiring Caris LeVert in James Harden deal from Brooklyn and sending LeVert to Indiana to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo — in addition to the four first-round picks and four draft pick swaps, sources said. https://t.co/3Tsm0dErtP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2021
This is one of the most massive trades in recent NBA history. James Harden has sparked a four-team trade involving multiple All-Stars in order to leave the Rockets and join Durant and Irving in Brooklyn.
The Nets are coming off a comeback win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night led by Durant while Irving remains absent for “personal reasons.” On the back of the rehabilitated two-time Finals MVP, Brooklyn won in a high-scoring affair. Now they will get to compete in the Eastern Conference with James Harden by his side.
Here is the full breakdown of the moving parts and players in the four-team trade:
Nets acquire: James Harden
Rockets acquire: Victor Oladipo, Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, three future first-round picks via Brooklyn (2022, 2024, 2026), four first-round pick swaps with Brooklyn (2021, 2023, 2025, 2027), and an unprotected 2022 Bucks first-round pick via the Pacers
Cavs acquire: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
Pacers acquire: Caris LeVert, second-rounder (TBD)
This article is being updated.
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