The Brooklyn Nets have been listed as a preferred destination for James Harden, but there is a massive roadblock preventing a deal from taking place. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Rockets are reluctant to move Harden to the Nets unless Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant is involved.
Ever since Houston cleaned house of Mike D'Antoni and Daryl Morey, Harden has been skeptical of the future of the organization. While the Rockets have acquired John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Christian Wood this offseason, that doesn't appear to be enough where Harden believes they can compete in the Western Conference.
Among the teams that have surfaced as a favorite to land the All-Star shooting guard, the Nets have been considered a prime landing spot. However, if Houston wants either Durant or Irving in return, then it's tough to envision both sides coming to an agreement.
Seeing that the Nets have yet to see Irving and Durant on the floor together, it would make little to no sense to move either of them. Plus, the hiring of Steve Nash seemed to be piloted by Irving and Durant.
On the other hand, Harden's trade situation is at a crossroads for multiple reasons. First and foremost, he's under contract for three more years, meaning the Rockets aren't in any rush to offload the disgruntled guard.
In addition, Harden's decision to skip training camp and not report to Houston on time could be a red flag for certain teams. While it's evident that the Rockets and Harden are headed for a divorce at some point, expecting Irving or Durant in the trade seems extremely unrealistic.
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