James Harden would reportedly prefer to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets above all else. Presumably, it's so he can reunite with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kevin Durant.

Brooklyn has a few interesting pieces but it's unclear if they are willing to package everything in an attempt to pair Harden with Durant and Kyrie Irving. While everyone is focused on Harden and the Nets, it's worth keeping in mind that trades need to work for both teams. The Rockets also have to like what they're getting back.

On the daily Locked On Nets Podcast, host Adam Armbrecht was joined by Alec Sturm to discuss the James Harden situation and the real reason why the Nets haven't been able to get a deal done yet.

Alec Sturm: The Rockets are looking for a perennial young star which Caris LeVert is not, I really hate to say he's not.

Adam Armbrecht: By the way, you're not saying anything that we haven't said multiple times in this podcast. Nets fans have an unrealistic view of Caris LeVert, Ben Simmons is two years younger than Caris LeVert. So I just don't think that people seem to understand the age piece of this around LeVert as good as he was in the bubble. We're definitely very much pro-Caris LeVert but he's just not the superstars that you're mentioning that could get a deal done.

Alec Sturm: I'm not like the rest of the NBA media that say the Nets offer is the worst thing I've ever seen. And I don't think it's that at all, I think it's much better value people reaching out to me. I think right now the Rockets just don't have the offers they want from the teams that Harden wants to go to. So the stars could still align theoretically, at the trade deadline, or maybe next offseason for Harden. Right now I think for Brooklyn or any team to really get in play, an untouchable guy needs to be made available, or Harden really needs to take another step in the leverage dilemma whether sitting out games or taking fines or whatever.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7B3QVmNMGs0vV8rZxBJh6n?si=8_eeGXEZSwqfmkVEG5ojRQ